PIERCE COUNTY (WA) BUSINESS FRAUD/STOLEN PROPERTY UNIT

• NCJ Number: 41646
• Author(s): S R BARLOW; M F LAYMAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 31 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE BUSINESS FRAUD/STOLEN PROPERTY PROGRAM (BF/SP) IS A SPECIALIZED PROSECUTION UNIT WHOSE TARGET CRIMES ARE CONSUMER FRAUD AND STOLEN PROPERTY TRAFFICKING.

Abstract

EVALUATION OF BF/SP DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY HAD GREATLY EXCEEDED CASELOAD EXPECTATIONS DERIVED FROM THE WORK OF SIMILAR PROGRAMS. BF/SP WAS FOUND TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN COMPARABLE PROGRAMS WHEN PRODUCTIVITY WAS MEASURED BY ECONOMIC LOSS, NUMBER OF VICTIMS, AND NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS CHARGED. THE CONVICTION RATE EFFECTED BY BF/SP (93%) WAS GREATER THAN THE LEAA STANDARD FOR SPECIALIZED PROSECUTION UNITS (90%). EVALUATION OF THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF BF/SP INDICATED THAT THEIR PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING WALK-IN COMPLAINTS IS COSTLY RELATIVE TO THE FEW WALK-IN COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED OR ARE FILED IN COURT. IN ADDITION, AGENCIES WHICH REFER TO BF/SP BELIEVED THAT THE PROGRAM COULD ENHANCE THE REFERRAL PROCESS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION TO REFERRAL SOURCES ON THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)