NCJ Number
156977
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
New York State felony indictments and Superior Court Informations (SCI's) totaled 70,567 in 1994, down slightly from 71,040 indictments and SCI's reported in 1993 and the lowest level reported since 1988.
Abstract
Drug offenses, which accounted for 41 percent of the indictment and SCI total, were down by almost 2 percent, while violent felonies (31 percent of the total) declined by 6 percent. Felony prosecutions dropped in New York City and upstate counties by 2 percent, while suburban New York City counties reported a 13 percent increase. The number of felony convictions in New York State decreased by almost 3 percent between 1993 and 1994. Violent felony convictions decreased at about twice the rate of felony drug convictions. A decline of almost 6 percent in New York City offset felony conviction increases in both suburban New York City and upstate counties. Prison sentences decreased by 6 percent, from 28,591 in 1993 to 26,725 in 1994. Sentences to State prison for drug convictions declined at a greater rate than for violent felony convictions. Only upstate counties reported an increase in the total number of prison sentences. Indictment processing times varied across New York regions. In New York City, the average length of time between arrest and indictment was 16 days, compared with 56 days in suburban New York City and 63 days upstate. The average time between indictment and disposition was longer in New York City (145 days) than in suburban New York City (125 days) and upstate (123 days). 5 tables and 5 figures