NCJ Number
239944
Date Published
May 2012
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the impact of a video statement program on convictions of domestic violence and elder abuse cases in Brooklyn, NY.
Abstract
Findings suggest that a video statement program can significantly increase convictions in intimate partner violence and elder abuse cases. Even if defendants' statements are not recorded on video, a program to take oral statements from mirandized defendants is likely to be valuable; efforts to increase victim participation in the prosecution may increase the conviction rate. Results show that the conviction rate was 3.1 percentage points higher in video cases than in non-video cases, among released defendants in Domestic Violence Bureau cases disposed in criminal court. In the smaller Domestic Violence Bureau Case File sample where there was control for the effect of victim participation, video statements increased the conviction rate by 5.0 percentage points. In the Intimate Integrated Domestic Violence Court, the conviction rate was 8.0 percentage points higher for released defendants in video cases than in non-video cases. Data were collected by the Kings County District Attorney's Office, the New York Police Department, and the New York City Criminal Justice Agency on defendants arrested in Brooklyn between November 27, 2007, and December 31, 2009. 8 figures