PEORIA, ILLINOIS - WITNESS INFORMATION SERVICE EXEMPLARY PROJECT VALIDATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 61286
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 81 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE OPERATION OF AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT IN PEORIA, ILL., TO PROVIDE A WITNESS INFORMATION SERVICE (WIS) IS NOTED. THE WIS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1975 AND PROVIDES NOTIFICATION TO WITNESSES IN MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY CASES.

Abstract

IN ADDITION TO WITNESS NOTIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES, THE WIS INCLUDES SUCH ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES AS ASSISTANCE AND ADVOCACY FOR VICTIMS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION OR RESTITUTION, THE SECURING OF AGREEMENTS FROM AREA EMPLOYERS TO COMPENSATE EMPLOYEES WHO MUST APPEAR AS WITNESSES, THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATIONAL BROCHURES TO COMPLAINING WITNESSES AND BATTERY VICTIMS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROCEDURES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO SERVE VICTIMS AND WITNESSES MORE EFFECTIVELY. BASED ON THE OBSERVATION OF 313 CASES IN THE 1973-1974 PERIOD, THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS ARE DOCUMENTED: (1) 40 PERCENT OF THE CASES WERE DISMISSED, PARTLY DUE TO WITNESS OR COMPLAINANT NONAPPEARANCE; (2) CASES SCHEDULED ON A PARTICULAR DAY WERE ALL SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME TIME, RESULTING IN LENGTHY WAITING PERIODS FOR MANY WITNESSES; AND (3) MOST CASES WERE NOT DISPOSED OF UNTIL AT LEAST 85 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ARREST, OFTEN BECAUSE OF REPEATED CONTINUANCES. IN PROVIDING WITNESS SERVICES, THE WIS TYPICALLY NOTES SUCH INFORMATION AS THE DEFENDANT NAME, CASE NUMBER, INCIDENT DESCRIPTION, CHARGE, DATE OF OFFENSE, PLACE, COMPLAINANT, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, JUDGE, DATE-TIME, ATTORNEY, COURT ACTION, CASE STATUS, SENTENCE, DISPOSITION, VICTIM-WITNESS NAMES AND ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, BIRTH DATES, SEX AND RACE, AND DATE NOTIFIED. VICTIM SERVICES ENCOMPASS COMPLAINT INFORMATION, RESTITUTION, COMPENSATION, AND PROPERTY RETURN. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE WIS MEETS CRITERIA FOR EXEMPLARY PROJECT SELECTION UNDER FUNDING FROM THE LEAA CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM IS ANALYZED IN TERMS OF MEASURABILITY, GOAL ACHIEVEMENT, EFFICIENCY, REPLICABILITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE WIS ARE ENUMERATED. ADDITIONAL PROJECT INFORMATION, FOCUSING ON WITNESSES AND VICTIMS, IS APPENDED. SOME FOOTNOTES, TABULAR DATA, CHARTS AND DIAGRAMS ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)