NCJ Number
44759
Date Published
1977
Length
32 pages
Annotation
POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH CARRIED OUT IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS REPORT ON THE LEAA EXEMPLARY PROJECT, PROMIS.
Abstract
RELYING PRIMARILY ON DATA STORED IN PROMIS CONCERNING APPROXIMATELY 100,000 STREET CRIME CASES, THE RESEARCH REFLECTS PROSECUTION AND COURT OPERATIONS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OVER A 5-YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN 1971 AND 1975. THE REPORT OPENS WITH COMMENTS ON THE FLEXIBILITY OF PROMIS AS A RESEARCH AND ADMINISTRATIVE TOOL. THE AREAS OF ANALYSIS ENCOMPASSED IN THE PROMIS RESEARCH PROJECT ARE OUTLINED, AND THE POTENTIAL OPERATIONAL IMPACT OF THE RESEARCH IS DISCUSSED. HIGHLIGHTS ARE PRESENTED OF FINDINGS FROM RESEARCH ON RECIDIVISTS AND THEIR CRIMES, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE FROM THE VICTIM'S PERSPECTIVE, POLICE PERFORMANCE FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE PROSECUTION AND THE COURTS, PROSECUTION PERFORMANCE FROM A CRIME CONTROL PERSPECTIVE, AND CRIME-SPECIFIC EVALUATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERFORMANCE. FINDINGS RELATED TO ROBBERY, BURGLARY, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND VICTIMLESS CRIMES ARE SUMMARIZED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE FINDINGS ON RECIDIVISM, FEMALE OFFENDERS, VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES, COURT DELAY, PLEA BARGAINING, BAIL, SENTENCING, UNIFORM CASE EVALUATION, AND OTHER TOPICS. ONGOING RESEARCH IS DESCRIBED, AND PLANS FOR NEW APPLICATIONS OF PROMIS IN ADMINISTRATION AND RESEARCH ARE NOTED. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INCLUDES A CHART DEPICTING PROMIS TRANSFER PROGRESS IN 48 JURISDICTIONS. FOR OTHER ISSUES IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ 44750-44758 AND 44760-44770.