STUDY OF THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS

• NCJ Number: 39133
• Author(s): R S FRASE; G P RIKOSKI
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 256 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0114
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of Chicago
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDY OF THE PROCESSING DECISIONS MADE IN FEDERAL CRIMINAL MATTERS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE US ATTORNEY IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 1973 AND MARCH 31, 1974.

Abstract

DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM A RANDOM SAMPLE FROM THE FILES OF THE US ATTORNEY, COURT RECORDS, MAGISTRATE FILES, AND US MARSHAL'S OFFICE RECORDS. THE SAMPLE WAS FOLLOWED FROM COMPLAINT THROUGH DISPOSITION. THE STUDY YIELDED FINDINGS DESCRIBING THE NATURE OF MATTERS AND DEFENDANTS REFERRED FOR POSSIBLE PROSECUTION AND SUMMARIZING THE FLOW OF THESE MATTERS AND DEFENDANTS THROUGH PRETRIAL SCREENING AND ADJUDICATION, THE DECISION TO FILE FORMAL CHARGES, CHARGING, PLEA BARGAINING, AND DISPOSITION OF PROSECUTED DEFENDANTS. THE PRETRIAL RELEASE CONDITIONS APPLIED TO PROSECUTED AND NON-PROSECUTED DEFENDANTS WHO WERE ARRESTED WERE ALSO EXAMINED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDED FROM THIS STUDY THAT THE DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS OF FEDERAL PROSECUTORS AND SENTENCING JUDGES APPEAR TO CONFORM TO BROADLY ACCEPTED LAW ENFORCEMENT GOALS. THEY SUGGEST FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM....EB