NCJ Number
127763
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study of the impact of New York State's Misdemeanor Trial Law (MTL) on New York City courts found that although the MTL may be useful in achieving desirable dispositions in individual cases, it has not affected the trial rate or disposition patterns in the city's criminal courts.
Abstract
Faced with an increasing backlog of cases in criminal courts in the State's largest cities, the New York State Legislature passed the MTL in 1984; it eliminated jury trials for certain Class A misdemeanor offenses. This study by the New York City Criminal Justice Agency tested the arguments of MTL proponents regarding its ability to speed case processing, increase the rate of trials, and reduce the number of inappropriate pleas. The study compared case processing time, trial rates, and sentencing patterns for two samples of cases: a sample drawn from Class A misdemeanor cases arraigned from March 1 to May 31, 1983 before the law went into effect and a sample drawn from Class A misdemeanor cases from March 1 to May 31, 1985 after the law was in effect. Half of the MTL cases were disposed at arraignment, both before and after MTL. Those that were continued at arraignment tended to be disposed by plea within a reasonable time period. The types of cases designated for MTL handling were likely to eschew trials and reach dispositions relatively quickly both before and after the law. Overall, MTL has not been useful in impacting the trial rate or disposition patterns in New York City criminal courts nor is it likely to do so in the future. 3 tables and 14 notes