CROSS-CITY COMPARISON OF FELONY CASE PROCESSING

• NCJ Number: 55171
• Author(s): K B BROSI
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 191 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-016-76
• Sponsoring Agency: National Criminal Justice Information & Statistics Service
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PROMIS REPORT

Annotation

THIS REPORT ON CROSS-CITY COMPARISONS OF FELONY CASE PROCESSING PRESENTS STATISTICS ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN 13 JURISDICTIONS USING THE PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PROMIS).

Abstract

USING DATA COLLECTED IN PROMIS, THE DISPOSITION OF ADULT FELONY CASES IS COMPARED--ON AN EQUIVALENT BASIS--FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF 1977. MAJOR ASPECTS OF PROSECUTORY DECISIONMAKING ARE EXAMINED, INCLUDING SCREENING, POSTFILING TERMINATIONS, PRETRIAL RELEASE, PLEA BARGAINING, AND TRIAL RATES. CASE-PROCESSING TIMES, SENTENCING PATTERNS, AND THE HANDLING OF CAREER CRIMINAL CASES ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THE REPORT DEMONSTRATES THE POTENTIAL OF AN EMPIRICAL APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING PROBLEM AREAS AND MONITORING THE IMPACT OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN COURT AND PROSECUTION AGENCIES. IT ALSO POINTS THE WAY TO FURTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH USING BOTH DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS AND ADVANCED STATISTICAL ANALYSIS. THE JURISDICTIONS INCLUDED IN THE STUDY ARE COBB COUNTY (GA.), DETROIT (MICH.), MARION COUNTY (IND.), KALAMAZOO (WASH.), LOS ANGELES COUNTY (CALIF.), LOUISVILLE (KEN.), MILWAUKEE (WIS.), NEW ORLEANS (LA.), RHODE ISLAND, AND SALT LAKE COUNTY (UTAH). (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)