NCJ Number
69961
Date Published
Unknown
Length
55 pages
Annotation
Analysis and recommendations of the technical assistance team from the Criminal Prosecution Technical Assistance Project focusing on the county attorney's office of Maricopa County, Arizona, are presented.
Abstract
The technical assistance team examined the county attorney's management and operation functions in accordance with the terms of a LEAA grant. The purpose of the 4-day visit was to analyze resource allocation throughout the office as it relates to attorney, investigative, and support functions. The basic approach is to examine the office with reference to its functional responsibilities. Interviews are conducted with those members of the office who are most directly involved in the problem areas. Major components of the problems are identified, and an exposition of needed change is provided where applicable. The visit to the county attorney's office focused on possible changes in the assignment of personnel and the possibility of increasing or decreasing the staff. The team recommends that every effort should be made to enlist the cooperation of the law enforcement agencies in having cases presented for charging by the investigator assigned to the case. Other suggestions include that witness interviews be scheduled during waiting periods, that the attorney assigned to a case be responsible for that case through preliminary hearing and final disposition, and that a pretrial docket control unit be established. With regard to the family support division and the civil bureau, funding should be provided for the acquisition of a private means for service or process, for blood testing in paternity cases, and for one additional attorney and 11 legal clerks. Three attorneys and an additional investigator should be added to the juvenile bureau. Most of the problems associated with the records management system will be alleviated with the installation of a new minicomputer and word processing system. An appendix containing related materials and a flow chart are included in the report.