NCJ Number
15690
Date Published
1974
Length
12 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT APPRAISAL, PROVIDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION INFORMATION, AND AN ANALYSIS OF DATA AVAILABILITY.
Abstract
THE DALLAS COUNTY IMPACT PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM OF INCREASING COURT BACKLOGS IN DALLAS. IT BECAME OPERATIONAL IN JANUARY 1973, AND HAS VIRTAULLY COMPLETED STAFFING. THE ORIGINAL EVALUATION PLAN HAD TO BE REVISED SINCE TWO TEMPORARY DISTRICT COURTS WERE MADE PERMANENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT ATTEMPTS TO PERFORM AN EVALUATION AT MID-POINT (JULY, 1974) HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF NEEDED STATISTICAL DATA AND/OR QUALITATIVE OUTSIDE EVALUATIONS. PROJECT OBJECTIVES WERE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF REPEAT OFFENSES BY PERSONS AWAITING TRIAL, TO REDUCE TIME BETWEEN FILING AND DISPOSITION OF CASES AND BETWEEN TRIAL AND FINAL APPEAL, TO ELIMINATE THE EXCESS CASE BACKLOG, REDUCE TIME SPENT IN THE COUNTY JAIL, TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DATA BANK, AND PROMOTE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFICIENCY. REASONS FOR LACK OF DATA CONCERNING EACH OBJECTIVE ARE GIVEN, AND STEPS TAKEN TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION ARE OUTLINED.