NCJ Number
55525
Date Published
1979
Length
485 pages
Annotation
A 3-YEAR PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE HANDLING OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES BY THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WIS., COURT SYSTEM IS FAVORABLY EVALUATED. THE EIGHT-PART PROGRAM REDUCED WITNESS 'NO-SHOWS' AND IMPROVED CITIZEN-COURT RELATIONS.
Abstract
CALLED 'PROJECT TURNAROUND,' THE PROGRAM CONSISTED OF A CITIZEN CONTACT AND SUPPORT UNIT, A CITIZEN AND VICTIM COMPLAINT UNIT, A SENSITIVE CRIMES UNIT (WHICH DEALT MOSTLY WITH THOSE INVOLVED IN RAPE OR INCEST CASES), A WITNESS EMERGENCY UNIT (WHICH HELPED VICITMS AND WITNESSES WHO HAD BEEN THREATENED OR INTIMIDATED), AN INFORMATION SYSTEMS UNIT, AN ADVOCACY UNIT, AND AN ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING UNIT WHICH COORDINATED THE ENTIRE PROJECT. THE ADVOCACY UNIT WAS LATER ABSORBED INTO VARIOUS OTHER UNITS. THE MOST SUCCESFUL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM WERE THE DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES. VICTIMS WERE ASSISTED IN UNDERSTANDING COURT PROCEDURES AND THE UNIT HELPED THEM RECOVER THEIR PROPERTY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WITNESSES WERE KEPT ABREAST OF CHANGES IN COURT APPEARANCE DATES, AND USELESS TRIPS TO COURT WERE REDUCED 50 PERCENT. THE SENSITIVE CRIMES UNIT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE HANDLING OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES INVOLVED IN SEXUAL OFFENSES OR OTHER SENSITIVE CRIMES AND, AS A RESULT, MORE WERE WILLING TO PROCEED WITH PROSECUTION. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO SERVE THE COURT, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THE VICTIM AND WITNESS SERVICE PROGRAMS WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROJECT. THE RESULTING JUSTICE RETRIEVAL AND INQUIRY SYSTEM (JUSTIS) IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. IN ADDITION TO CHARTS AND TABLES PRESENTING THE EVALUATION FINDINGS, THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS BUDGETS FOR EACH PHASE OF THE PROJECT, FLOW CHARTS, ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS, COPIES OF PHONE AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WITH CITIZENS, DATA COLLECTED FROM COURT AND POLICE OFFICIALS, MAPS, AND ESTIMATED COSTS OF REPLICATION. (GLR)