Uniform Rules of Criminal Procedure for All Courts

• NCJ Number: 94164
• Author(s): R Chapin; W G Hueber
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 76 pages
• Corporate Author: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
• Sale Source: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines the arguments that the United States should establish uniform rules governing the procedures of all criminal courts in the Nation.

Abstract

An overwhelming proportion of all criminal prosecutions begin in State and local courts. Federal courts are already accustomed to standard rules of criminal procedure, meaning that adjustment to uniform rules would be a greater concern for State and local courts. Proponents of uniform rules contend that a significant advantage of uniform rules is increased efficiency in the handling of the volume of criminal proceedings in the State, local, and Federal courts. Opponents of uniform rules fear the consequences of the structural adjustments that would be required to implement the proposition. One of the goals of the criminal process is the conviction of the guilty and the prompt acquittal of the innocent. Proponents of the uniform rules maintain that the improved efficiency would result in greater fairness to the innocent as well as to the guilty. Public attitudes towards crime and upholding the law are a point of contention in this issue. Opponents contend that certain values of individual States would be impaired by promulgating uniform rules. The appendix presents the contents of the Uniform Rules of Criminal Procedure. A 6-page bibliography and 194 notes are provided.