NCJ Number
213904
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2006 Pages: 213-229
Date Published
April 2006
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article reports on evaluation findings regarding the effectiveness of the Joint Prosecution Unit (JPU), a city-county criminal prosecution unit for domestic violence cases involving children that utilizes an evidence-based prosecution strategy.
Abstract
Findings indicate that the evidence-based prosecution strategy result in significantly enhanced prosecution outcomes. Specifically, while the number of case filings remained stable, fewer cases were declined, more cases were charged, case dismissals decreased, and conviction rates increased. Moreover, the average disposition or guilty plea was for a more serious charge than those made before the inception of the JPU. All of these enhancements were made without changes to policies or procedures regarding the handling or sentencing of domestic violence cases. The results suggest that a specialized cross-deputized team of city and county attorneys utilizing an evidence-based prosecution approach is an effective means of dealing with domestic violence, especially cases involving children. Data were drawn from the JPU’s comprehensive database developed to track cases going through the new unit. Researchers analyzed 446 cases prosecuted by the JPU during the 2-year period 1998 through 2000. Data included information about criminal charges, children’s level of involvement, the use of a weapon, prior criminal history, final disposition, and demographic background. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 judicial, prosecution, and law enforcement personnel regarding implementation issues and the types of prosecutorial models used. Chi-square and t-tests were used to analyze the data. Future studies should address whether prior criminal history impacts the outcome in evidence-based prosecution. Tables, references