NCJ Number
46442
Date Published
1977
Length
34 pages
Annotation
OPERATIONS IN 1976 OF THE WASHTENAW COUNTY (MICH.) PRE-TRIAL INVESTIGATION PROGRAM, WHICH DETERMINES A DEFENDANT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR PRETRIAL RELEASE ON PERSONAL RECONGIZANCE OR A LOW MONEY BOND, ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
INCLUDED WITH THIS REPORT ARE A PROGRAM DESCRIPTION, INTERVIEW FORMS USED WITH THE WEIGHTED POINT EVALUATION SCALE (WHICH FORMS THE BASIS OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COURT REGARDING RELEASE AND THE REPORT FORM WHICH IS SUBMITTED TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES. THESE REPORT FORMS ARE KEPT BY THE JUDGES, AND NEW OR UPDATED INFORMATION IS SUBMITTED WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION AS COLLECTED. THE INVESTIGATORS DO NOT RECOMMEND THE AMOUNT OF A MONEY BOND, WHICH IS LEFT TO THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT. WHEN A NEGATIVE OR DEFERRED RECOMMENDATION IS MADE TO THE COURT, THE INVESTIGATORS MERELY STATE THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CLIENT QUALIFIES FOR A RECOGNIZANCE OR CONDITIONAL RECOGNIZANCE RELEASE. THE PROGRAM ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE WASHTENAW COMMUNITY BAIL FUND, INC., TO ASSIST THOSE CLIENTS WHO WOULD BE A SAFE RISK IN THE COMMUNITY WITH A LOW MONEY BOND. THE FORM FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR VERIFICATION OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IS GIVEN, WHICH IS USED BY THE PROGRAM TO VERIFY INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND EMPLOYERS OF CLIENTS. DURING 1976, 985 NEW INVESTIGATIONS WERE OPENED ON ALLEGED FELONS AND HIGH MISDEMEANANTS. FOUR FULL-TIME DEPUTY INVESTIGATORS AND ONE COORDINATOR INTERVIEWED, EVALUATED, AND VERIFIED INFORMATION AND PRESENTED WRITTEN REPORTS TO DISTRICT AND CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES. THE TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA INCLUDED CATEGORIZES CLIENTS INTO FOUR GROUPS (VIOLENT, NONVIOLENT, BOTH VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT, AND DRUG OFFENDERS) AND LISTS CASES BY TOTAL NUMBERS, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RELEASE, NEGATIVE AND DEFERRED RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS MADE WITH NO AUTHORIZATION BY THE PROSECUTOR, BOND REPORTS, TRANSFERS, FINAL DISPOSITIONS, NO FINAL DISPOSITIONS, AND BENCH WARRANTS ISSUED. DATA ON FAILURE TO APPEAR AND TERMINATION OF CASES BY DEATH ARE ALSO GIVEN. FEMALE CLIENTS MADE UP 10 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL. THE NAMES OF INVESTIGATORS AND THE SIZE OF THEIR CASELOADS, AND INFORMATION ON CONDITIONAL RELEASES ARE ALSO PRESENTED. A SAMPLE COPY OF A WARNING LETTER SENT TO CLIENTS ON CONDITIONAL RELEASE IF THEY FAIL TO REPORT AFTER 2 WEEKS IS ATTACHED. A BRIEF CLIENT PROFILE FROM THE 1975 STATISTICAL SAMPLE ANALYSIS BELIEVED TO BE VALID FOR 1976 IS INCLUDED. STAFF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES ATTENDED IN 1976 ARE DISCUSSED. (DJM)