NCJ Number
13267
Date Published
1973
Length
117 pages
Annotation
NARRATIVE AND TABULAR RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF PROSECUTORS, THEIR WORKLOADS, BUDGETS, AND EXPERIENCE LEVELS.
Abstract
THERE IS VERY LITTLE QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT PROSECUTORS AND THEIR OFFICES. IN 1970 AND 1973, THE COMMITTEE ON THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL (COAG) OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL CONDUCTED NATIONWIDE SURVEYS OF LOCAL PROSECUTORS TO HELP FILL HIS GAP AND MAKE INFORMATION AVAILABLE. THIS STUDY PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF THE 1973 SURVEY ALONG WITH THE COMPARABLE RESULTS FROM THE 1970 DATA. THE 1973 QUESTIONNAIRE WAS BASED ON THE ONE USED IN 1970, WITH SOME ALTERATIONS, AND CONTAINED THIRTY-TWO QUESTIONS. COAG MAILED 2,672 QUESTIONNAIRES TO PROSECUTORS THROUGHOUT THE NATION INCLUDING ALL LOCAL PROSECUTORS EXCEPT CITY ATTORNEYS. THERE WAS A 37 PERCENT RESPONSE, SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THE 24 PERCENT RESPONSE IN 1970. AS PART OF THE STUDY, THE COAG DETERMINED THROUGH CORRESPONDENCE AND FOLLOW-UP TELEPHONE CALLS WHERE NECESSARY, THAT THERE WERE 2,679 LOCAL PROSECUTORS. OUT OF THIS FIGURE, 62 PERCENT SERVE COUNTY JURISDICTIONS, 13 PERCENT SERVE DISTRICTS, AND 25 PERCENT SERVE IN COMBINATION SYSTEMS, WHERE SOME PROSECUTORS ARE SELECTED ON A DISTRICT BASIS, AND OTHERS, ON A COUNTY BASIS. OTHER AREAS DISCUSSED ARE JURISDICTION AND POPULATION SERVED, LENGTH OF PROSECUTOR'S TERM AND EXPERIENCE, BUDGET, FULL AND PART TIME SALARY COMPARISONS, STAFF, TRAINING PROGRAMS, CASELOADS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL. DATA IS PRESENTED IN BOTH NARRATIVE AND TABULAR FORM. (SNI ABSTRACT)