NCJ Number
8043
Date Published
1973
Length
46 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW SCREENING AND SPECIAL CASE UNITS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AND USED TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECT OF EFFICIENTLY UTILIZING PROSECUTION RESOURCES.
Abstract
EFFECTIVE CASE SCREENING BY PROSECUTORS CAN INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF BOTH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND THE COURTS. SOME CASES ARE TOO MINOR TO MERIT THE COST OF PROSECUTION OR THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE CANNOT BE REASONABLY EXPECTED TO PRODUCE CONVICTIONS. SOCIETY'S INTERESTS MIGHT BE BETTER SERVED IN OTHER CASES IF FORMAL PROCEEDINGS WERE SUSPENDED ON CONDITION THAT THE OFFENDER PARTICIPATE IN A REHABILITATION OR TREATMENT PROGRAM. ONE BENEFIT OF SUCH CASE SCREENING IS THAT SOME OF THE RESOURCES OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE CAN BE CONCENTRATED ON PROCESSING SELECTED CASES INVOLVING DANGEROUS CRIMES OR REPEAT OFFENDERS. THE REPORT INCLUDES DESCRIPTIONS OF ALTERNATIVE SCREENING AND SPECIAL CASE PROCESSING PROGRAMS, FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN CHOOSING A PARTICULAR ALTERNATIVE, STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM, RECOMMENDED POLICIES FOR THE STAFFING UNITS, AND RECOMMENDED OPERATING PROCEDURES. (SNI ABSTRACT)