NCJ Number
43474
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THREE APPROACHES TO IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CHARGING, SCREENING, AND DIVERSION DECISIONS AND FUNCTIONS ARE COMPARED.
Abstract
THE PHILADELPHIA, PA., POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IMPLEMENTED AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM IN WHICH LEGAL COUNSELING AND SCREENING AND DIVERSION DECISIONS ARE TRANSMITTED FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DIRECTLY TO POLICE DETECTIVE DIVISIONS AT THE TIME OF ARREST BY MEANS OF A CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEM AND COMPUTER AIDS. THE SYSTEM REPRESENTS AN ATTEMPT TO BRING THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CLOSER TO THE POINT OF ARREST. THE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM IS COMPARED WITH TWO OTHER APPROACHES USED IN PHILADELPHIA: THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS TO PROVIDE ON-SITE LEGAL COUNSELING AND SCREENING AND DIVERSION SUPPORT SERVICES AT EACH DETECTIVE DIVISION; AND THE USE OF A CENTRALIZED, INFORMAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM TO PROVIDE THESE SUPPORT SERVICES. THE ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE SYSTEM USING CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND COMPUTER AIDS IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE AND MOST EFFICIENT APPROACH IN THAT IT USES THE FEWEST ATTORNEYS AND PERMITS THE EARLIEST SCREENING AND DIVERSION. ADVANTAGES OF THE CLOSED CIRCUIT/COMPUTER SYSTEM ARE SUMMARIZED, AND THE TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFERABILITY OF THE SYSTEM IS ASSESSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND SYSTEM FLOWCHARTS ARE INCLUDED. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FULL REPORT IS DESCRIBED.