NCJ Number
39336
Date Published
1975
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE BUREAU EMPHASIZED EFFECTIVE SCREENING AND PROSECUTION OF FELONY RECIDIVISTS THROUGH A POINT SYSTEM WHICH IDENTIFIED SERIOUS FELONIES, PROMPT TRIAL PREPARATION, AND CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF WITNESS AVAILABILITY.
Abstract
THE CONTINUITY OF A SINGLE PROSECUTOR ON THE CASE AND THE ASSURED INTEGRITY OF A SINGLE REASONABLE PLEA OFFER WERE ALSO INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE PROGRAM. THIS REPORT REVIEWS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU DURING 1974. THE PROCESSING AND DISPOSITION OF CASES SELECTED FOR MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU TREATMENT AND CONTROL CASES (THOSE QUALIFYING FOR TREATMENT AFTER PRELIMINARY SCREENING, BUT NOT SELECTED) ARE ANALYZED AND COMPARED. ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT 75 PERCENT OF MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU DEFENDANTS WERE CONVICTED OF EITHER THE TOP COUNT OR ONE DEGREE BELOW THE TOP COUNT AS COMPARED TO SLIGHTLY OVER 25 PERCENT OF THE CONTROL GROUP. THE MEDIUM TIME SPAN FROM ARREST TO FINAL DISPOSITION OF A BUREAU CASE WAS 70 DAYS, WHILE ALMOST 86 PERCENT OF CONTROL CASES WERE OLDER THAN 70 DAYS, IN ADDITION, NOT A SINGLE CONTROL CASE WAS RESOLVED BY TRIAL, WHILE THE BUREAU HAD A 74 PERCENT TRIAL CONVICTION RATE. THE AVERAGE MAXIMUM SENTENCE IMPOSED IN A BUREAU CASE WAS 8.6 YEARS AS OPPOSED TO 4.46 YEARS FOR A CONTROL DEFENDANT. PROGRAM CONTINUATION IS RECOMMENDED...ELW