NCJ Number
107709
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 29 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1987) Pages: 389-403
Date Published
1987
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined attrition in the processing of cases from the police through the courts in data for 155 rape and attempted rape cases filed in Winnipeg, Canada, in 1976 and 1977.
Abstract
Filtering out of cases at the police level accounted for the termination of 52.6 percent of the cases. Police and victim apprehension of proceeding with the case (cases viewed as unfounded or where no complaint is filed or charges are dropped) and the failure to identify and locate a suspect were major factors in attrition. At the level of Crown Counsel, 5.7 percent of charges were terminated for lack of evidence; an additional 4.7 percent were resolved by plea bargaining of charge or sentence. At the court level, 7.6 percent were terminated by case dismissal or acquittal. Of 51 persons (24.2 percent) found guilty, 21 were found guilty of reduced charges or received reduced sentences through plea bargaining. Factors related to case attrition included absence of a medical examination, victim criminal record and lack of victim injury (at the police level only). 5 tables and 19 references.