NCJ Number
54006
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING ADMINISTRATION, INFORMATION FLOW, COMMUNICATIONS, AND DECISIONMAKING SUPPORT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
A DIAGRAM SHOWING THE INTERRELATIONSHIP OF PHILADELPHIA'S POLICE, PROSECUTION, COURT, AND PRISON SUBSYSTEMS IS PRESENTED. INEFFICIENCIES IN THE PROCESSING OF CASES INVOLVING VICTIMLESS CRIMES (ILLEGAL GAMBLING, COMMERCIAL PROSTITUTION, LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS) ARE POINTED OUT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A LINK BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE BY USING EXISTING CABLE COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPUTER FACILITIES. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM WOULD ENABLE THE PROSECUTOR'S DIVERSION OFFICE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH EACH DETECTIVE DIVISION'S SCREENING APPARATUS IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT A DIVERSION DECISION AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE STAGE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. THIS DIRECT COMMUNICATION LINK COULD RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS IN PAPERWORK AND IN TIME INVOLVED IN BOOKING, ARRAIGNMENT, AND INITIAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. FOR VICTIMLESS CRIMES ALONE, THE SAVINGS COULD AMOUNT TO $1 MILLION ANNUALLY. USE OF THE CITY'S EXISTING COMPUTER FACILITIES TO DEVELOP A RESOURCE ALLOCATION/CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE COURTS AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IS ALSO RECOMMENDED. THE CITY IS ALSO ADVISED TO CONDUCT A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE POLICE, PROSECUTION, AND COURTS. THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS, WHICH WOULD FOCUS ON RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND POLICY, COULD BE USED TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS (E.G., INCREASES OR DECREASES IN SCREENING, DIVERSIONARY, OR PLEA-BARGAINING ACTIVITIES). CHARTS AND DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATE THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. EXAMPLES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPLICATIONS OF CABLE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS ARE APPENDED. (LKM)