Arrest to Trial in Forty-five Days

• NCJ Number: 75939
• Author(s): E C Friesen; J Jordan; A Sulmonetti
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 90 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-DF-09-0019
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Whittier College School of Law
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines the Multnomah County (Ore.) court system's success in trying most of its felony cases within 45 days of arrest and compares its methods with those of four other metropolitan courts.

Abstract

For the past 7 years, Multnomah County, in which Portland is located, has substantially reduced its felony court delay. This study sought to identify those factors which had affected delay in the county and to determine if the same factors could be identified in other jurisdictions. The project staff performed a 3-month analysis of all of the relationships and procedures in the county's court system. The four systems examined for comparative purposes were those located in Dayton, Ohio, Houston, Tex., Miami, Fla., and Rhode Island. These systems were examined in terms of the legal environment, system flow, information support, and support resources. In all but the model county the management data available were deemed unreliable. After completion of the study of each site the critical factors were restated. The study revealed that early appointment of counsel at the first intake court hearing and assistance to defendants in arranging for retained counsel tends to reduce delay wherever the practice exists. Results also showed that once problem areas were identified, some systems were more ready for change than others. For example, a system that is without substantial central control cannot adopt practices which are dependent on uniformity in judicial behavior. Findings indicated that the critical factors affecting delay involved organization for decisionmaking, organization for control, case inventory control, control for arraignments, operating standards, accurate statistical information, and adequate resources. The examination of Multnomah County and of the other areas raised more questions than it answered. While it appears probable that the county's experience can be adapted and applied to other counties, it is by no means certain. Appendixes and seven tables are included.