NCJ Number
58369
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR DETAINED INMATES HAS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS DETAINED LONGER THAN 1 YEAR BY 90 PERCENT AND THOSE DETAINED MORE THAN 6 MONTHS BY 45 PERCENT. THE 22-MONTH PILOT STUDY COST $7,920,295.
Abstract
DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 7, 1976, TO MARCH 31, 1978, THIS NEW YORK CITY PROGRAM WAS FUNDED BY LEAA. DURING THAT TIME IT HANDLED 1,469 CASES: 434 DEFENDANTS WHO HAD BEEN DETAINED LONGER THAN 1 YEAR, 813 DETAINED BETWEEN 6 AND 12 MONTHS, AND 222 DETAINED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OR ON PAROLE. THE TRIAL RATE WAS EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH: 23.8 PERCENT COMPARED TO 11.3 PERCENT FOR ALL CASES HANDLED BY THE SUPREME COURT CRIMINAL BRANCH OF NEW YORK CITY. THE CONVICTION RATE WAS 77.5 PERCENT COMPARED TO 66.6 PERCENT CITYWIDE. FELONY PLEAS ACCOUNTED FOR 97.6 PERCENT OF ALL SPECIAL PROGRAM PLEAS, COMPARED TO 88.1 PERCENT CITYWIDE. ONLY 6.8 PERCENT OF SPECIAL PROGRAM CASES WERE DISMISSED, COMPARED TO 14.3 PERCENT FOR NEW YORK CITY AS A WHOLE. A SPECIAL STUDY OF LONG-TERM DETAINEES CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROGRAM FOUND THAT THESE DEFENDANTS REQUEST ATTORNEY CHANGES AND ADJOURNMENTS FAR MORE FREQUENTLY THAN OTHER DEFENDANTS. THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO GO TO TRIAL, HAVE HIGHER CONVICTION RATES, AND RECEIVE MORE SEVERE SENTENCES. OVERBURDENED CRIMINAL COURTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE LONG-TERM DETAINEE PROBLEM. SINCE THE LEAA-FUNDED PILOT PERIOD, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE NEW YORK DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND THE OFFICE OF COURT ADMINISTRATION HOPES TO EXPAND IT. (GLR)