NCJ Number
43192
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 44 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1977) Pages: 70-73
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA RECIDIVISM PROBLEM, A PROGRAM INSTITUTED TO COMBAT 'REVOLVING DOOR JUSTICE,' AND RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
A RECIDIVIST MONITORING PROJECT CONDUCTED BY THE D.C. POLICE DEPARTMENT BETWEEN 1971 AND 1976 SHOWED THAT UP TO 25 PERCENT OF ALL PERSONS ARRESTED ANNUALLY FOR ALL OFFENSES WERE ALREADY ON SOME TYPE OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE AT THE TIME OF ARREST. ONE OF THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE HIGH RECIDIVISM FIGURES IS THE LIBERAL D.C. BAIL REFORM ACT, WHICH GENERALLY PROVIDES THAT PERSONS WITH COMMUNITY TIES ARE ENTITLED TO RELEASE ON PERSONAL RECONGNIZANCE OR UNSECURED BOND. SPECIAL PROCEDURES MUST BE INVOKED BEFORE PRETRIAL DETENTION OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DEFENDANTS CAN TAKE PLACE. MORE STRINGENT CONTROL OF REPEAT AND VIOLENT OFFENDERS WAS DEMANDED BY THE PUBLIC AFTER TWO CONTROVERSIAL MURDERS INVOLVING POSTARREST RELEASE OF SUSPECTS. THE D.C. POLICE DEPARTMENT THEREFORE PROPOSED IN JUNE 1976 A CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM WHICH WOULD CONCENTRATE PROSECUTOR AND POLICE RESOURCES ON THE CASES OF THOSE DEFENDANTS CONSIDERED TO BE THE GREATEST DANGER TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROGRAM, DUBBED 'OPERATION DOORSTOP,' WAS INITIATED IN AUGUST 1976 BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE U.S. ATTORNEYS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ONE SERGEANT AND FIVE INVESTIGATORS STAFF THE POLICE COMPONENT OF THE SPECIAL UNIT; FOUR ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEYS AID IN HANDLING ALL COURT PROCEDURES BETWEEN ARREST AND TRIAL. SPECIFIC CRITERIA BASED ON VIOLENCE OF OFFENSE THAT WERE ADOPTED FOR DETERMINING WHICH DEFENDANTS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREER CRIMINALS ARE OUTLINED IN THE ARTICLE, ALONG WITH RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UNIT PERSONNEL. A TABLE OF STATISTICAL RESULTS OF THE PROGRAM AFTER 10 MONTHS IN OPERATION SHOWS THAT 278 DEFENDANTS HAD BEEN CLASSIFIED AS CAREER CRIMINALS, 88 PERCENT OF WHOM WERE INCARCERATED AT THE TIME OF COMPILATION. IN ADDITION TO REMOVING HARD-CORE CRIMINALS FROM THE STREETS, OTHER BENEFITS LISTED INCLUDE IMPROVED PROCESSING OF WITNESSES, PRIORITY SERVICE BY PAROLE AND PROBATION SERVICES, AND INCREASED COOPERATION AMONG POLICE, PROSECUTORS, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS AGENCIES. A CASE HISTORY OF A CAREER CRIMINAL IS ALSO PRESENTED.