NCJ Number
55449
Date Published
1977
Length
97 pages
Annotation
FELONY PROSECUTION AT BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL IS REVIEWED AND CHANGES IN THIS PROCEDURE WHICH ARE PLANNED UNDER THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM ARE EXPLAINED. COURT STATISTICS AND PROSECUTION DATA ARE INCLUDED.
Abstract
THIS BACKGROUND PAPER FOCUSES ON THE PROBLEMS FACED BY FRANKLIN COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, PROSECUTORS, AND COURT OFFICIALS IN HANDLING FELONY PROSECUTIONS. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF 30 DIFFERENT AGENCIES RANGING IN SIZE FROM 1,144 SWORN OFFICERS (CITY OF COLUMBUS) TO ONE FULL-TIME OFFICER (DARBYDALE, NEW ALBANY, AND VALLEYVIEW). PROSECUTION IS DONE AT BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY LEVELS AND THE COURT PROCESS IS BIFURCATED FOR CRIMINAL MATTERS. FLOWCHARTS AND STATISTICS ILLUSTRATE EACH STEP OF THE FELONY PROSECUTION PROCESS, POINTING OUT THE LARGE NUMBER OF INDICTMENTS WHICH NEVER GO TO TRIAL. CASELOAD STATISTICS, BUDGET DATA, AND PERSONNEL DATA ARE ALSO GIVEN. THEN THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM IS EXAMINED, AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TARGETED PROSECUTION PRACTICES AND ROUTINE PROSECUTION IN FRANKLIN COUNTY ARE LISTED. THE 15 CRITERIA FOR CAREER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION ARE REVIEWED. DEFENDANTS FALLING INTO ONE OF THESE CATEGORIES ARE GIVEN INTENSE PROSECUTORIAL ATTENTION BY MORE EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL. RESTRAINTS ON DISPOSITIVE DISCRETION ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE PROGRAM. DURING THE FIRST 18 MONTHS OF THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROJECT, 377 CASES WERE HANDLED. OF THESE 97 PERCENT RESULTED IN INDICTMENTS, COMPARED WITH A COUNTY WIDE AVERAGE OF 76 PERCENT FOR ALL FELONIES; 88 PERCENT WENT TO JURY TRIAL, COMPARED TO 62 PERCENT FOR ALL FELONIES; AND 88 PERCENT RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS, COMPARED TO 62 PERCENT. IN ADDITION, CONDITIONS FOR GUILTY PLEAS WERE MORE STRINGENT. (GLR) FELONIES; AND 88 PERCENT RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS, COMPARED TO 62 PERCENT. IN ADDITION, CONDITIONS FOR GUILTY PLEAS WERE MORE STRINGENT. (GLR)