PREPARED STATEMENT OF RALPH J TEMPLE, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION ON FEBRUARY 6, 1978 CONCERNING HR 7747 (FROM PRETRIAL RELEASE AND DETENTION, P 190-272, 1978 - SEE NCJ-66651)

• NCJ Number: 66658
• Author(s): R J TEMPLE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (ACLU) ARGUES THAT PRETRIAL DETENTION IS A DECEPTIVE EXPEDIENT WHICH DOES NOT PROTECT LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS AND DETRACTS FROM THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE.

Abstract

THIS PREPARED STATEMENT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS CONCERNING H.R. 7747, AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 23 OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CODE WITH RESPECT TO PRETRIAL RELEASE OR DETENTION OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH CERTAIN VIOLENT OR DANGEROUS CRIMES. THE ACLU REPRESENTATIVE DECRIED THE CONCEPT OF PRETRIAL DETENTION, CALLING IT A SIMPLISTIC SOLUTION, A FAILURE, AND A DENIAL OF THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF CRIMES. HE PRAISED OPERATION DOORSTOP AS A BETTER APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CAREER CRIMINALS, BUT URGED SPEEDY TRIALS AS THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. ADOPTION OF A BILL MODELED AFTER THE FEDERAL SPEEDY TRIAL ACT OF 1975 WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE WITNESS IN LIEU OF H.R. 7747. LISTING ALL THE ADVANTAGES OF SPEEDY TRIALS VERSUS THE ENACTMENT OF H.R. 7747, WHICH WOULD COMPOUND THE EXISTING CRIMINAL JUSTICE CRISIS BY ADDING TO THE BACKLOG OF COURT CASES AND TO THE OVERCROWDING OF D.C. JAIL, THE WITNESS CALLED THE EXPANSION OF PRETRIAL DETENTION AN UNDISCIPLINED, THOUGHTLESS APPROACH TO CRIME CONTROL.