WITNESS UTILIZATION - A STUDY OF THE PROSECUTION PROCESS IN ALBUQUERQUE FROM A WITNESS PERSPECTIVE

• NCJ Number: 27480
• Author(s): J C PELOQUIN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 60 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-N1-06-002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of New Mexico
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDY OF THE PROBLEMS AND EXPERIENCES OF CITIZEN AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WITNESSES AS THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE PROSECUTION EFFORT IN THE SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF BERNALILLO COUNTY.

Abstract

THE STUDY INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS OF CITIZENS WHO BECOME PROSECUTION WITNESSES. THE PROFILE OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES IS COMPARED TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GENERAL ALBUQUERQUE METROPOLITAN POPULATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER WITNESSES DIFFER FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION IN ANY WAY. ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO ASSESS WITNESS AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF PROSECUTION PROCEDURE. FURTHERMORE, WITNESS ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PROSECUTION PROCESS AND EXPECTATIONS OF FUTURE COOPERATION ARE EXAMINED. PERCEPTIONS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENTS ON THE PART OF BOTH CITIZEN WITNESS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE COMPARED AND ANALYZED. FINALLY, WITNESS SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PROSECUTION PROCESS ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF THE VARIOUS RESEARCH FINDINGS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)