NCJ Number
38765
Date Published
1978
Length
19 pages
Annotation
A SUMMARY IS PRESENTED OF A PROJECT IN WHICH 628 FELONY OFFENDERS WERE INTERVIEWED AFTER ARREST AND AGAIN AFTER CONCLUSION OF THEIR CASES TO DETERMINE THEIR EVALUATIONS OF THEIR COURT EXPERIENCE AND THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF COURT PERSONNEL.
Abstract
THE GROWING CONCERN IN OUR SOCIETY FOR EVALUATING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CONSUMER ARGUES FOR SOME ATTENTION TO WHAT DEFENDANTS THINK ABOUT THEIR HANDLING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE PREMISE OF THIS RESEARCH IS THAT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH CLIENT SATISFACTION -- I.E., CONCERNED NOT ONLY WITH DOING 'JUSTICE' FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS BUT ALSO WITH GIVING THEM THE SENSE THAT JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE. THIS RESEARCH EXAMINES THE ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF DEFENDANTS. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH A RANDOM SAMPLE OF MALES CHARGED WITH FELONIES IN THREE CITIES -- PHOENIX, BALTIMORE, AND DETROIT. INITIAL INTERVIEWS WERE HELD WITH 812 MEN, WHILE FOLLOWUP INTERVIEWS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE COURT PROCESS WERE OBTAINED FROM 628 OF THE OFFENDERS. DATA WERE GATHERED ON THE INITIAL ATTITUDES OF OFFENDERS TOWARD LAWYERS, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES; THE DEFENDANT'S EVALUATIONS OF THE SPECIFIC PARTICIPANTS ENCOUNTERED IN HIS CASE; AND THE ATTITUDES OF DEFENDANTS AFTER COURT PROCESSING. THE STUDY FOUND THAT DEFENDANTS DO NOT TRUST PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO THE SAME EXTENT AS PRIVATE DEFENDERS, THAT THEY VIEW JUDGES FAVORABLY AND PROSECUTORS UNFAVORABLY, AND THAT TIME SPENT WITH THE DEFENDANT AND MODE OF DISPOSITION ARE IMPORTANT INFLUENCES ON THE DEFENDANT'S EVALUATION OF HIS ATTORNEY'S EFFORTS. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS TO THE OPERATION OF THE COURT PROCESS ARE EXAMINED.