NCJ Number
83739
Date Published
Unknown
Length
135 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the success of federally funded and technically supported career criminal prosecution programs (CCP). It summarizes 15 evaluation reports of 38 career criminal prosecution programs operational between 1975 and 1981.
Abstract
The common goal of these programs is identifying offenders whose criminal histories indicate a pattern of repeated serious offenses, and, upon identification, speeding up case processing and improving case management procedures to ensure conviction and incapacitation. The report discusses the effect of these programs on the court system, district attorneys and public defenders, police, corrections officials, victim/witness relations, and crime levels. The programs had a positive impact on the operations of district attorneys' offices and law enforcement agencies and have resulted in an increased trial rate, higher conviction rates, lower acquittal and dismissal rates, a deemphasis on plea bargaining, and a greater probability of prison sentences, although the small flow of CCP cases through the court system minimized these results. CCP efforts were successful in improving victim/witness relations, but generally had little impact on the time needed to process a felony. Public defenders were most critical of the programs. Few attempts have been made to assess the impact of CCP operations on crime rates or the correctional system. Tabular data and footnotes are supplied.