NCJ Number
40229
Date Published
1977
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THIS OVERVIEW OF A 17-VOLUME VOLUME DATA ANALYSIS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM PRESENTS HIGHLIGHTS OF INTERIM FINDINGS OF THE MULTIYEAR PROSECUTOR'S INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PROMIS) RESEARCH PROJECT.
Abstract
THE PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PROMIS) PRODUCED A COMPREHENSIVE BODY OF DATA ON APPROXIMATELY 100,000 'STREET CRIME' CASES THAT AROSE OUT OF NORMAL PROSECUTION AND COURT OPERATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OVER A 6-YEAR PERIOD. THE INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND SOCIAL RESEARCH (INSLAW) ANALYZED THE DATA, AND THE PROMIS RESEARCH PROJECT YIELDED A WIDE RANGE OF FINDINGS ON TOPICS SUCH AS THE POLICYMAKING UTILITY OF CRIME DATA, THE PRIORITY OF THE REPEAT OFFENDER, THE HIGH-FEAR CRIMES OF ROBBERY AND BURGLARY, THE LOW-CONVICTION CRIME OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND THE PROSECUTION OF CRIMES INVOLVING WEAPONS AND OF VICTIMLESS CRIMES. THE IMPACT OF VICTIM CHARACTERISTICS ON THE DISPOSITION OF VIOLENT CRIMES, THE SCOPE AND PREDICTION OF RECIDIVISM, GEOGRAPHIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERNS OF CRIME, THE PROCESSING OF FEMALE DEFENDANTS, PLEA BARGAINING AND COURT DELAY, PRETRIAL RELEASE DECISIONS, AND SENTENCING PRACTICES ARE ALSO COVERED. THERE ARE 17 PUBLICATIONS IN THE SERIES. THIS FIRST REPORT PRESENTS A GENERAL SUMMARY OF INSLAW STUDIES IN SUCH AREAS AS POLICE AND PROSECUTION OPERATIONS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS FROM A VICTIM'S AND CRIME-SPECIFIC PERSPECTIVE. THE PROMIS REPORTS ON 'EXPANDING THE PERSPECTIVES OF CRIME DATA' AND 'CURBING THE REPEAT OFFENDER' ARE LISTED AS NCJ-40230 AND NCJ-40228 RESPECTIVELY,