NCJ Number
46016
Date Published
1978
Length
125 pages
Annotation
THREE EXPERIMENTAL JUDICIAL CIRCUITS AND ONE WHICH SERVED AS A CONTROL ARE EXAMINED TO SEE IF ALABAMA'S E-4 PROSECUTORIAL ASSISTANCE PLAN REDUCED CASE BACKLOG AND IMPROVED PROSECUTION.
Abstract
TO MEET THE PROBLEM OF GROWING CRIMINAL CASE WORKLOADS, IN 1970 THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT PLANNING AGENCY STARTED PROJECT 1 OF THE E-4 PROGRAM TO FUND INSERVICE TRAINING FOR PROSECUTORS AND TO EMPLOY SUPPORTIVE PERSONNEL SUCH AS ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, TRIAL COORDINATORS, INVESTIGATORS, AND SECRETARIES. TOTAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR PROJECT 1 WERE $5,806,839 DURING ALABAMA'S 38 DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICES TO HIRE OR MAINTAIN A TOTAL OF EIGHT ASSISTANT PROSECUTORS, 20 INVESTIGATORS/TRIAL COORDINATORS, AND 20 SECRETARIES. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM WERE TO REDUCE CASE BACKLOG AND DELAYS IN PROSECUTION, AND TO INCREASE THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION RATE. COMPARISON OF THREE FUNDED JUDICIAL CIRCUITS WITH A CONTROL CIRCUIT WHICH DID NOT RECEIVE FUNDING FOUND THAT BACKLOGS STAYED THE SAME, AND THE INCREASED PERSONNEL KEPT THE BACKLOGS FROM INCREASING ANYMORE. THE UNFUNDED CIRCUIT EXPERIENCED A SUBSTANTIAL CASE BACKLOG INCREASE. THE E-4 PROGRAM ALSO INCREASED THE PROPORTION OF CASES WHICH MOVED FROM ARREST TO DISPOSITION WITHIN 210 DAYS. OUTCOME OF PROSECUTION WAS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY AFFECTED BY THE FUNDING, AND THE PROPORTION OF CONVICTIONS DID NOT INCREASE. HOWEVER, EXPEDITIOUS AND/OR EFFECTIVE NONTRIAL DISPOSITIONS DID INCREASE. THE INABILITY TO REDUCE BACKLOG IS RELATED TO THE RISING NUMBER OF INDICTMENTS, WHICH INDICATES INCREASED EFFICIENCY OF THE TOTAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. APENDIXES GIVE FIGURES FOR THE VARIOUS PROSECUTORS' OFFICES. (GLR)