NCJ Number
110430
Date Published
1988
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study evaluates the impact of notifying defendants released on bail of their upcoming court appearances on failure-to-appear (FTA) rates in New York City's courts.
Abstract
FTA data were collected by the New York Criminal Justice Agency (CJA) from January 1986 through September 1987. Data were examined for both bailed and released on recognizance (ROR) defendants to ensure that any differences in FTA rates could be attributed to the notification program. Variables analyzed included charge type and severity, CJA release recommendation at arraignment, and arraignment release status. While the analysis revealed no significant increase or decrease in overall FTA rates during the 21-month study period, the notification project appeared to have interrupted a trend of rising FTA rates for bailed defendants evident in months preceding the project. Notification appeared more effective in reducing FTA among defendants who were recommended for ROR by CJA than among the whole bail release population. Since a verified address is prerequisite to CJA's most positive release rating, recommended defendants were more likely to receive their notification letters. Supplementary analyses provide support for the finding that the notification program was responsible for a modest reduction in FTA rates. Tables and graphs.