NCJ Number
74875
Date Published
1977
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Services provided by a Brooklyn, N.Y. project designed to improve communication between the courts and prosecution witnesses and to decrease witness disaffection are described.
Abstract
During one calandar quarter, the project processed about 15,250 witness appearances. While only 39 percent of these witnesses appeared for their court dates, the project staff nevertheless improved their ability to predict which witnesses would appear. Witnesses were placed on a standby telephone alert for appearances; the practice saved needless court trips by 1,593 witnesses. During the 3 months, the project also processed court appearances by about 13,000 police witnesses. Over half of all court outcomes during the quarter were adjournments; 52 percent of the adjournments were made because prosecution witnesses were not available. Attempts to improve the appearance rate by notifying witnesses in advance were not successful. The project also offered witness services including a victim hotline, transportation, a reception center, a services counselor, an emergency building repair service, and a children's play center. Most victims and witnesses were not aware of the services. Those who were rated them highly, and most of the service users would not have received assistance from another source. The services did not improve users' attitudes toward the court nor their willingness to come to court. Graphs are included.