NCJ Number
58992
Date Published
1976
Length
46 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES THE MAJOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A STUDY OF STRATEGIES FOR INVOLVING THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN IMPROVING CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN CLEVELAND, OHIO.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN BY A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS CONCERNED ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE. THE COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED BY THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION TO HELP IDENTIFY SOME OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS AND NEEDS IN THE CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN AREA AND TO SUGGEST WAYS IN WHICH THE FOUNDATION AND OTHERS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR MIGHT RESPOND TO THEM. THE 13-MEMBER COMMITTEE WAS ASSIGNED BY OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, STAFF LAWYERS, AND STUDENT RESEARCHERS. THE COMMITTEE INITIALLY INVOLVED ITSELF IN SELECTING A LIMITED NUMBER OF AREAS IN WHICH PRIORITY CONCERN WOULD BE FOCUSED AND WHERE LIMITED PRIVATE DOLLARS WOULD HELP BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FAIRNESS, EFFICIENCY, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWING FIVE AREAS WERE EXPLORED: THE ADULT CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM FOR INDIGENT DEFENDANTS, THE CLEVELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THE ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH MORE THAN 120 LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS, AND RESEARCH WAS DONE ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING PROPOSED NATIONAL STANDARDS, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, AND IMPORTANT CASE LAW AND STATUTES. FIVE REPORTS WERE PREPARED. THE SUMMARY FINDINGS UNDERLINED SEVERAL AREAS OF CONCERN--THE NEED FOR MORE UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR HANDLING CRIMINAL JUSTICE MATTERS; THE NEED FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT; THE NEED FOR INCREASED DATA, INNOVATIVE EXPERIMENTS, AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS; AND THE NEED FOR GREATER CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN ALL FACETS OF THE CLEVELAND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE INDIVIDUAL REPORTS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED SEPARATELY FROM THIS SUMMARY REPORT. (MJW)