NCJ Number
61309
Date Published
1979
Length
60 pages
Annotation
ELEVEN OREGON COUNTIES ARE COMPARED IN THEIR PROCESSING OF PART I FELONY ARREST CASES. STATISTICS AND COMMENTARY ARE PROVIDED ON THE PROCESSING OF FELONY ARRESTEES IN 11 OREGON COUNTIES CASES.
Abstract
PRESENTED AS A SEQUEL TO AN EARLIER STUDY, THIS REPORT PRESENTS ARREST TRACKING DATA FOR EACH COUNTY INVOLVED IN THE FIRST STUDY AND SERVES AS AN AID TO LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNERS AND DECISIONMAKERS IN IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS AND INITIATING FURTHER STUDY. DATA IS PRESENTED ON CHARGE AT ARREST, CIRCUIT COURT DISPOSITION, SENTENCES, FILING COMPARED TO ARREST CHARGE, CONVICTION COMPARED TO FILING CHARGE, CONVICTION COMPARED TO ARREST CHARGE, AND GUILTY PLEA COMPARED TO FILING CHARGE. GUIDELINES ARE PROVIDED FOR ANALYZING THE STATISTICS ACCORDING TO THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE POLICE, PROSECUTOR, VICTIM, AND TAX PAYER. COMPARISONS ARE MADE OF THE PERCENTAGES OF FELONY ARRESTS RESULTING IN CIRCUIT COURT FILINGS, DISPOSITIONS, SENTENCES, AND CHARGES IN EACH COUNTY. BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE AND DIFFICULTY OF TRACKING CASES IN OREGON, ONLY ARRESTS IN FISCAL YEAR 1976 WERE SAMPLED. FOR SMALLER COUNTIES, ALL PART 1 FELONY ARRESTS WERE TRACKED. IN ALL OTHER COUNTIES EXCEPT MULTNOMAH, SAMPLES WERE INCREASED TO HEIGHTEN THEIR STATISTICAL VALIDITY. THE RESULTING NUMBERS WERE STILL SMALL, AND CAUTION IS URGED IN INTERPRETING THE RESULTS. AVERAGES ARE SHOWN IN THE APPENDIX. (RCB)