NCJ Number
46224
Date Published
1977
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A PROGRAM PROVIDING PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES TO OFFENDERS PROSECUTED AS CAREER CRIMINALS IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE CAREER CRIMINAL BUREAU OPERATED IN NEW ORLEANS, LA., BY THE ORLEANS PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAS ESTABLISHED TO REDUCE CRIME BY IDENTIFYING AND EXPEDITING THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS. IN ANTICIPATION THAT MANY DEFENDANTS PROSECUTED AS CAREER CRIMINALS WOULD BE CANDIDATES FOR THE INDIGENT DEFENDER PROGRAM, THE SPECIALIZED TRIAL BUREAU (STB) WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE FOR EXPECTED INCREASES IN THE PROGRAM'S CASELOAD. THE FIRST-YEAR REPORT DESCRIBES THE OPERATION AND STATUS OF THE STB, REVIEWS COSTS, AND DRAWS CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE BUREAU'S EFFECTIVENESS. STB STAFF INCLUDES FIVE ATTORNEYS, TWO INVESTIGATORS, AND ONE SECRETARY. DURING THE 11-MONTH EVALUATION PERIOD, THE STB HANDLED 53 PERCENT OF THE 573 CASES ACCEPTED FOR PROSECUTION BY THE CAREER CRIMINAL BUREAU. OF THE 203 STB-HANDLED CASES THAT WERE DISPOSED OF DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD, 55 PERCENT WERE DISPOSED OF BY PLEAS, 28 PERCENT BY OTHER NONTRIAL METHODS, AND 17 PERCENT BY JUDGE OR JURY TRIAL. OVERALL, EITHER THROUGH PLEAS OR TRIALS, 69 PERCENT OF ALL STB CASES RESULTED IN GUILTY FINDINGS (80 PERCENT WHEN WITHDRAWALS AND REJECTIONS ARE DEDUCTED). EACH STB ATTORNEY WAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ABOUT FOUR ACTIVE CASES PER MONTH. THE STB'S AVERAGE COST TO TERMINATE A CASE IS ESTIMATED AT $657. THE STB'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS REGARDING ITS GOALS ARE SUMMARIZED. PLANS TO CONTINUE THE STB (PERHAPS AT A LOWER STAFF LEVEL) AFTER FEDERAL FUNDING EXPIRES ARE NOTED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)