NCJ Number
124135
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Using official record data available to prosecutors in two jurisdictions to learn how offenders were classified as high-rate and dangerous, this study found that some commonly used information can be misleading or ineffective for purposes of identification. The data concerned 500 male defendants, 17 percent of whom were selected for priority prosecution, and all of whom were ultimately convicted.
Abstract
Prosecutors use this type of information to plan their priority prosecution programs. Priority prosecution programs are run using close cooperation with police officers, screening of defendants, assignment of experienced attorneys to prosecute priority cases, vertical prosecution, case coalescing, close supervision of priority cases by a senior prosecutor, curtailment of plea negotiations, and caseload reduction. In general, three overlapping types of offender profiles -- persistent, high-rate, and dangerous offenders -- are classified as career criminals. Among the findings from this study were that prosecutors evaluate separately the three dimensions of a defendant's criminality; written guidelines about selection criteria for classifying career criminals promote consistency among prosecutors, but a 2-stage screening process assures greater accuracy; and some factors may preclude the selection and priority prosecution of defendants who are in fact dangerous offenders. 13 references