NCJ Number
53846
Date Published
1977
Length
21 pages
Annotation
THE ABILITY OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT PROSECUTION AND COURT EVALUATIONS IS DEMONSTRATED BY EXAMINING THE PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PROMIS) RESEARCH PROJECT.
Abstract
PROMIS, A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT DAILY OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT, HAS BEEN IN EFFECT IN THE LOCAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SINCE 1971. THE PROMIS RESEARCH PROJECT EMPLOYED THIS AUTOMATED CASE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM TO HELP ADMINISTRATORS EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THEIR DECISIONS. FOLLOWING A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PROMIS, THIS PAPER EXAMINES ITS USE IN RESEARCHING FIVE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE FIRST PROJECT RELATED UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS AND VICTIMIZATION DATA TO COURT RECORDS TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF COURT DECISIONS ON CRIME RATES. THIS ANALYSIS FOUND THAT MANY CASES WERE LOST BETWEEN ARREST AND INDICTMENT AND BETWEEN INDICTMENT AND TRIAL, RESULTING IN A LESS EFFECTIVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE SECOND ANALYSIS, AN EXAMINATION OF PATTERNS OF RECIDIVISM, FOUND THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE PROSECUTOR'S WORKLOAD DURING THE 56-MONTH STUDY PERIOD. A LONGITUDINAL STUDY IS IN PROCESS WHICH WILL ATTEMPT TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF PLEA BARGAINING, BAIL, AND SENTENCING ON REARREST PATTERNS. THE PROJECT ALSO STUDIED PROSECUTION POLICY REGARDING RECIDIVISTS AND FOUND THAT THESE CASES RECEIVE PRIORITY ATTENTION. ANOTHER STUDY ANALYZED POLICE PROCEDURES AND ARREST PROCEDURES WHICH LEAD TO CONVICTIONS. THE FINAL STUDY ANALYZED CRITERIA FOR BAIL DECISIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT AS MORE JURISDICTIONS IMPLEMENT SUCH PROSECUTORS' SUPPORT SYSTEMS, INTERJURISDICTIONAL RESEARCH WILL BE POSSIBLE. (GLR)