NCJ Number
54521
Date Published
1977
Length
1997 pages
Annotation
THE 1976 COLORADO STATE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, DEVELOPED UNDER A LEAA GRANT, FORMS THE FOUNDATION FOR IMPROVEMENT OF BOTH ADULT AND JUVENILE JUSTICE PROCESSES IN THE STATE.
Abstract
THE PLAN IS THE PRODUCT OF WORK BY THE STATE PLANNING COUNCIL, REGIONAL PLANNING BOARDS, UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND STATE AGENCIES AND IS DESIGNED TO EMPHASIZE CRIME REDUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICE DELIVERY WITHIN COMPONENETS OF THE JUSTICE PROCESS. LOCAL DATA FOR PLANNING PROCESSES WERE COLLECTED BY REGIONAL PLANNING UNITS AND THEN ANALYZED TO FORECAST TRENDS AND IDENTIFY AND SELECT APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS. FOUR MAJOR PLAN COMPONENTS WERE PREPARED: THE EXISTING SYSTEMS; THE STATEMENTS OF JUSTICE SYSTEM DEFICIENCIES, THE STATEMENTS OF PRIORITIES, AND THE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORY GOAL STATEMENTS AND PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. PRESENTED IN THE PLAN ARE DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILES OF THE STATE AND ITS REGIONS, AN OVERVIEW OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FUNCTIONS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS, AND A DISCUSSION OF THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IN COLORADO AND THE MAJOR PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THE DELIVERY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. THE ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT ALTHOUGH COLORADO'S METROPOLITAN AREAS, PARTICULARLY DENVER, EVIDENCE THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF CRIME, CRIME RATE INCREASES FOR TOTAL CRIME ARE HIGHEST IN RURAL AREAS. THE CRIME RATE FOR THE STATE GREW AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE NATION'S RATE FOR THE PERIOD 1972-1974. THE STATE NEEDS A CONSOLIDATED EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT 'PROACTIVE' SOLUTIONS TO CRIME, INCREASED RESOURCES FOR THE DETECTION OF CRIME AND APPREHENSION OF OFFENDERS, AND COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS AND PLANNING OF COURT CASE FLOW. OTHER IDENTIFIED SYSTEM NEEDS FOR A VARIETY OF AREAS (SYSTEM DIVERSION AND ENTRY, CASE BUILDING, ADJUDICATION, SENTENCING, POSTCONVICTIONS, PROCEDURES, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND REHABILITATION) ARE DISCUSSED. THE FINAL SECTION OUTLINES THE ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS AND PRESENTS THE ACTION GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR 1975. THE APPENDIXES DISCUSS ACTIVITIES OF THE FEDERAL, AND OTHER STATE AND LOCAL PLANS AND SYSTEMS; PAST PROGRESS OF PROGRAMS 1975; THE TEXT OF COLORADO'S RATIFIED AND RECOMMENDED STANDARDS, AND SELECTED SPECIAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE PLANNING AGENCY. (DAG)