NCJ Number
53054
Date Published
1978
Length
55 pages
Annotation
A STATISTICAL OVERVIEW OF THE OREGON CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PROVIDED, INVOLVING AN ANALYSIS OF 1000 FELONY ARRESTS AND DISCUSSION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEDURES.
Abstract
ONE THOUSAND OREGON FELONY ARRESTS WERE ANALYZED IN ORDER TO COMPILE STATISTICS ON THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM'S RESPONSES TO SERIOUS CRIME. DATA ON ARRESTEES AND THEIR CHARGES WERE EXTRACTED FROM THE AUTOMATED CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS. SPECIFIC INFORMATION CONCERNING ALL ARRESTS FOR CRIMINAL HOMICIDE WAS SURVEYED, AND A RANDOM SAMPLE OF ARRESTS FOR THE OTHER SERIOUS CRIME CATEGORIES WAS SELECTED. EACH OF THE CRIMES WAS EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE PERCENTAGE OF ARRESTS WHICH RESULTED IN THE FILING OF CHARGES IN CIRCUIT COURT, IN CIRCUIT COURT CONVICTIONS, IN SOME FORM OF INCARCERATION, AND IN INCARCERATION OVER ONE YEAR. HOMICIDE ARRESTS RESULTED IN THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF CHARGES AND CONVICTIONS, WITH CHARGES FILED IN 89.8 PERCENT OF THE ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS OBTAINED IN 70.5 PERCENT OF THE CASES. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT ARRESTS RESULTED IN THE LEAST SEVERE CONSEQUENCES ON AN OVERALL STATISTICAL BASIS. THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE PROSECUTOR AND THE VICTIM ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO RISK OF CONVICTION FOR THE OFFENDER, DETAILED DISCUSSIONS CONCERN THE PROCEDURES EMPLOYED AND RESULTS OBTAINED IN TERMS OF THE CHARGING DECISION, PLEA NEGOTIATION, CONVICTIONS, SENTENCING PRACTICES, COURT PROCESSING, AND OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT OREGON'S JUDICIAL SYSTEM COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH OTHERS IN THE NATION, WITH MOST CONVICTIONS BEING OBTAINED WITHOUT THE EXPENSE OF A TRIAL AND WITH DISPOSITIONS BEING OBTAINED WITHOUT UNREASONABLE DELAY. A BETTER RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)