NCJ Number
51670
Date Published
Unknown
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A PROJECT FUNDED IN 1975 TO PROVIDE PROVIDENCE, R.I., POLICE WITH ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE MAJOR GOALS OF THE PROJECT WERE TO PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT, INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION, POLICE PROCEDURE, CASE PREPARATION, AND RELATED AREAS; AND TO UPGRADE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF BULLETINS AND MEMORANDUMS AND THROUGH CLASSROOM TRAINING AND LECTURES. THE PROJECT'S FULL-TIME ATTORNEY OCCUPIES AN OFFICE IN POLICE HEADQUARTERS ADJACENT TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE. ALTHOUGH AN OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE LEGAL ADVISOR'S IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF CASE PREPARATION WAS NOT POSSIBLE, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE ADVISOR'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE AREAS OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND PROCEDURES HAS BEEN POSITIVE. DEPARTMENT STAFF AND STAFF IN RELATED AGENCIES EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE LEGAL ADVISOR AND ENDORSED THE CONCEPT OF FULL-TIME LEGAL COUNSEL FOR LARGE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE ADVISOR HAS PERFORMED ADEQUATELY THE TASKS SPECIFIED IN THE PROJECT'S GRANT PROPOSAL, AND HAS CONFORMED TO STANDARDS AND GOALS PROPOSED BY THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ADVISOR KEEP A DIARY OF HIS ACTIVITIES, THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS BE PROVIDED TO COVER THE ACQUISITION OF A LAW LIBRARY AND SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS, AND THAT AN EFFORT BE MADE TO COORDINATE RECORDKEEPING IN THE COURTS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS SO THAT PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS CAN BE EVALUATED MORE OBJECTIVELY. NO SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)