NCJ Number
60088
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
A JUVENILE FELONY PROSECUTION PROJECT, CONDUCTED DURING 1978 TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF A LEGALLY MANDATED PROGRAM PREVIOUSLY FUNDED BY A LEAA DEMONSTRATION GRANT, IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE PROJECT'S GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION FOR ALL JUVENILE REPEAT FELONY OFFENDERS, AND ALL OFFENDERS WHO COMMIT CRIMES OF VIOLENCE. DUE TO INCONSISTENCIES AMONG SOURCES, THE DATA PRESENTED ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A SAMPLE RATHER THAN A COMPLETE POPULATION STUDY. PREVIOUS MODEST INCREASES IN FILINGS AND HEARINGS AND UNCHANGED LEVELS OF DELINQUENCY REFERRALS CONTRASTED MARKEDLY WITH 1978 RESULTS. THE SECOND HALF OF 1978 PRODUCED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN FILINGS AND HEARINGS OVER THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR. IN ADDITION, THE FILING RATE ON DELINQUENCY CASES ALMOST DOUBLED. SENTENCE MODIFICATIONS OCCURRED SIGNIFICANTLY MORE OFTEN, WHILE DELINQUENCY PETITIONS DECLINED SLIGHTLY DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR. DELINQUENCY CASE HEARING ACTIVITY WAS SIMILAR TO FILING ACTIVITY. AVERAGE PROCESSING TIME FOR A DELINQUENCY CASE DROPPED FROM 45.7 DAYS IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1978 TO 42.7 DAYS IN THE SECOND HALF, INDICATING THE COUNTY'S ADAPTABILITY IN DEALING WITH THE NEW DUE PROCESS AND SENTENCING STANDARDS. ATTORNEY USE IN DELINQUENCY CASES DROPPED FROM 87.2 PERCENT TO 49.4 PERCENT BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND HALVES OF THE YEAR. CASES WITH CONTESTED FACTS OR DISPOSITIONS SHOWED A PARALLEL DECLINE. DEPENDENCY REFERRALS DECREASED BY 53 PERCENT, PETITIONS BY 50 PERCENT BETWEEN THE 2 HALVES OF THE YEAR. DIVERSION CASES (55.8 PERCENT OF ALL DELINQUENCY CASES) WERE THE LARGEST SINGLE BLOCK OF CASES THE PROSECUTOR HANDLED. THE EARLY START IN THE PROGRAM, MADE POSSIBLE BY THE LEAA GRANT, HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT'S OVERALL SUCCESS. TABLES ARE INCLUDED.