NCJ Number
30681
Date Published
1975
Length
58 pages
Annotation
BASED ON A REVIEW OF CERTAIN PERFORMANCE CRITERIA, THIS EVALUATION SHOWS THAT BOTH THE RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE PROGRAM AND THE INVESTIGATION AND WARRANT UNIT HAVE INCREASED THEIR EFFICIENCY AND GOAL ACHIEVEMENT.
Abstract
THE BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE PROGRAM ARE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURTS REGARDING ELIGIBILITY FOR RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE (ROR) AND TO ASSURE THAT DEFENDANTS WHO ARE RELEASED ON RECOGNIZANCE APPEAR AT HEARINGS AND FOLLOW OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURES DURING THE PERIOD PRIOR TO ADJUDICATION. BASED ON THE CRITERIA OF THE RELEASE ON RECOGNIZANCE RATE, THE FAILURE TO APPEAR INDEX, AND THE PROPORTION OF ROR RELEASES TO ACTUAL APPEARANCES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT ROR'S PERFORMANCE HAD IMPROVED IN THE LAST YEAR. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE INVESTIGATION AND WARRANT SERVICE UNIT ARE TWOFOLD: TO COMMUNICATE WITH DEFENDANTS REGARDING COURT HEARINGS AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURES, THEREBY PREVENTING FAILURE TO APPEAR IN COURT AND OTHER ADVERSE ACTIONS DURING THE PRETRIAL PERIOD WHICH FORESTALL THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE: AND TO SERVE FAILURE TO APPEAR WARRANTS TO DEFENDANTS WHO FAILED TO APPEAR AT COURT HEARINGS. THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN SUCH EFFECTIVENESS INDICES AS THE FAILURE TO APPEAR RATE, THE FUGITIVE RATE, VOLUNTARY SURRENDER RATE, WARRANTS SERVED, WARRANTS SERVED PER MAN-HOUR, COST EFFECTIVENESS, AND EFFICIENCY INDEX INDICATED PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S PERFORMANCE. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS REPORT INCLUDE THE RELATIONSHIP OF ROR TO THE DETENTION POPULATION, A STUDY OF 500 DEFENDANTS HELD ON MONEY BAIL, PATTERNS OF TIME IN DETENTION, THE RELATIONSHIP OF DETENTION TIME AND BAIL AMOUNT, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON ROR'S FUNCTION IN REDUCING THE DETENTION POPULATION. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE A LIST OF POSSIBLE INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE SHORT-TERM DETENTION AND A DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS RAISED BY THESE SUGGESTED INTERVENTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)