NCJ Number
51595
Date Published
1978
Length
26 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT DESIGNED TO LESSEN TIME SPENT IN JAIL BEFORE ARRAIGNMENTS, REDUCE TIME FROM FILING TO DISPOSITION, AND IMPROVE CASE SCHEDULING IS EVALUATED. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM IS A GOOD ONE, ADMINSTRATIVE PROBLEMS EXIST.
Abstract
A PROJECT IN NEVADA'S EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT KNOWN, AS THE LAS VEGAS TRACK AND TEAM PROJECT USED A COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES TO SPEED CASE DISPOSITIONS. PREPROJECT DATA WAS OBTAINED BY SAMPLING COURT FILES. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LENGTH OF TIME FROM FILING OF A CRIMINAL CASE TO ITS DISPOSITION WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS PREPROJECT, 151 DAYS POSTPROJECT. COMPARABLE PROCESSING IN DISTRICT COURT TAKES 65 DAYS. FOR ALL CASES, AVERAGE TIME DROPPED FROM 270 DAYS TO 65 DAYS. MORE CASES ARE GOING TO TRIAL, AN INCREASE FROM AN AVERAGE OF 104 A YEAR TO 195, AND SCHEDULING HAS ALSO IMPROVED. PRIOR TO THE PROJECT, SOMEONE ARRESTED FOR A FELONY OR GROSS MISDEMEANOR WAS HELD IN JAIL UNTIL THE NEXT MASS ARRAIGNMENT ON MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, OR FRIDAY. THIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE WAS VERY MECHANICAL. UNDER THE TRACK AND TEAM PROJECT, AN INTAKE OFFICER SEES DEFENDANTS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER ARREST, ADVISES THE ACCUSED OF HIS RIGHTS, HELPS MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR BAIL, AND ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE IF THE ACCUSED WILL NEED A PUBLIC DEFENDER. THIS INTAKE SYSTEM HAS FACILITATED THE DISCHARGE OF SUSPECTS FROM JAIL AND HAS CUT BOTH JAIL HOUSING COSTS AND POLICE ESCORT COSTS. IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDED, HOWEVER, IN THE HANDLING OF PUBLIC ORDER OFFENSE AND PROSTITUTION-RELATED CHARGES, WHICH ARE OFTEN DROPPED BY POLICE. NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT, BUT, ON THE WHOLE, THE PROJECT SEEMS TO BE FUNCTIONING WELL. THE MAJOR PROBLEM HAS BEEN AN INTERNAL DISPUTE OVER THE PROJECT DIRECTOR. THIS PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. (GLR)