NCJ Number
72386
Date Published
1980
Length
145 pages
Annotation
This report evaluates the operations of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) during fiscal year 1979-80; the agency's main service is interviewing arrested defendants and making recommendations for pretrial release.
Abstract
CJA was initially funded by LEAA and city tax funds and is now fully supported by city tax funds. CJA goals are to reduce the days spent in detention by defendants who could safely be released before trial, to reduce the rates of nonappearance in court, and to operate a citywide pretrial service agency. From July 1979 through December 1979, CJA interviewed an average of 8,635 defendants per month. About half of these defendants were recommended for pretrial release. Defendants arrested on felony charges were more to be recommended for release than those arrested for misdemeanors. CJA recommendations were based mainly on defendants' community ties. Although judges appeared to be influenced by CJA recommendations, they also appeared willing to release defendants charged with less serious crimes without consideration of their community ties. Some judges interviewed for this study expressed reservations about CJA's verification procedures and incomplete interviews. Defendants with verified and unverified communmity ties had lower failure to appear rates than did defendants not recommended by CJA. CJA also appears to have helped reduce the high failure to appear rate for Desk Appearance Ticket arraignments. In addition, CJA has helped the police department improve efficiency by assuming tasks related to scheduling and processing Desk Appearance Tickets. CJA has also conducted research and has an operational information system. Cost per interview for the period of analysis was $13.59, excluding Desk Appearance Ticket interviews. CJA should seek ways of improving efficiency and reducing costs, but should not follow the suggestion by some that it need not interview all defendants. The agency should also educate judges about its activities. It is concluded that CJA plays an important and necessary role in criminal case processing in New York City. Tables and footnotes are included.