Police and Prevention: A Research Report on Cooperation in the Criminal Justice System (From Crime Prevention and Intervention: Legal and Ethical Problems P 145-166, 1989, Peter-Alexis Albrecht and Otto Backes, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 120326
• Author(s): U Herbort; D Rzepka; S Voss
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: Walter de Gruyter & Co
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

The Juvenile Court Act of the Federal Republic of Germany (JGG) gives prosecutors several options for discontinuing prosecution before a trial (pretrial diversion).

Abstract

The purposes of such dismissal are to lessen the burden on the courts and to prevent disproportionate public reaction and stigmatization of juveniles. Unlike in the United States, German police do not have the right to close a case due to lack of evidence; only the prosecutor has such authority. Research shows that juvenile prosecutors dismissed only petty cases. A project in Bielefeld (West Germany) gives police the right to make recommendations to the prosecutor that hopefully will result in greater police cooperation and improved information and, consequently, an increase in factually correct dismissal of cases. 22 references.