NCJ Number
26015
Date Published
Unknown
Length
65 pages
Annotation
REPORT OF A CITIZENS' COMMITTEE ORGANIZED TO DETERMINE THE NATURE AND AVAILABILITY OF CRIMINAL LEGAL SERVICES IN EVANSTON.
Abstract
ALL CRIMINAL CASES PROCESSED IN EVANSTON DURING 1970 WERE SURVEYED TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ACCUSED OF CRIME, TYPES OF CRIMES OF WHICH THEY WERE ACCUSED, AND THE DISPOSITION OF THEIR CASES. PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS DEVOTED TO THE PREVALENCE AND EFFECT OF PRETRIAL RELEASE ON BOND AND REPRESENTATION BY ATTORNEYS. DOCKET SHEETS WERE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE SEX OF THE ACCUSED, SPECIFIC VIOLATION, AMOUNT OF BOND, NUMBER OF DAYS DETAINED BEFORE CASE DISPOSITION OR POSTING OF BOND, NUMBER OF PRIOR COURT APPEARANCES, CASE DISPOSITION, TYPE AND LENGTH OF SENTENCE AND AMOUNT OF FINE. COURT FILES WERE SCANNED TO LEARN HOW MANY DEFENDANTS RETAINED PRIVATE COUNSEL AND A LIST WAS PROVIDED BY THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER OF CASES IN WHICH SHE ACTED AS COUNSEL. THE RESULTS REVEALED THAT A HEAVY RELIANCE ON CASH BONDS AND THE ABSENCE OF LEGAL COUNSEL ARE PART OF THE BASIC PROBLEM OF COURT CONGESTION. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO REDUCE COURT CASELOAD BY AMENDING CITY ORDINANCES PERTAINING TO THE PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN VICTIMLESS CRIMES.