Police-Prosecutor Relations in the United States - Final Report

• NCJ Number: 85875
• Author(s): W F McDonald; H H Rossman; J A Cramer
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 508 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-NI-AX-0025
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Georgetown University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study points out weaknesses in the police-prosecutor relationship, based mainly on 290 interviews with police and prosecutors in 16 jurisdictions.

Abstract

A common and major weakness in this relationship is police failure to supply prosecutors with the amount and kind of information needed, the study concludes. This is due to inadequacies in training, incentive, and the nature of the interorganizational communication system used. Prosecutors contribute to these problems by failing to inform police about the information needed for strong cases and about the disposition of cases brought by the police. Morever, the relationship suffers from interpersonal animosity and interorganizational conflict and noncooperation. Most of the conflict comes from mutual doubt and cynicism about each other's competence, motives, and dedication. Police and prosecutors must devote greater attention and cooperative concern to screening out low-priority cases and cooperating on serious ones. Data tables, case illustrations, and over 300 references are supplied. Charging procedures and other information are appended. (Author abstract modified)