NCJ Number
10332
Date Published
1973
Length
174 pages
Annotation
USING DATA FROM CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS, THE TREATMENT OF ADULT FELONY OFFENDERS IS TRACED FROM ARREST THROUGH SENTENCING OR ACQUITTAL.
Abstract
THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN AS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE VALUE OF EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS AND AS A DESCRIPTION OF THE FUNCTIONING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM THIS RESEARCH CONCENTRATE ON THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SINCE THE WORK IS DONE MAINLY FOR HIS AGENCY. MOST OF THE CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM ANALYSIS OF THE DATA ARE NOT READILY EXPLICABLE, RESULTING IN THE PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATION TO SEEK ANSWERS THROUGH ADDITIONAL RESEARCH. THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT CONCLUSION IS THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS DOUBTS CONCERNING THE CONSISTENCY OR FAIRNESS WITH WHICH DEFENDANTS ARE TREATED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. FINDINGS WHICH LEAD TO THAT CONCLUSION INCLUDE 1) THE EXISTENCE OF WIDE DISPARITIES AMONG POLICE DEPARTMENTS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICES, AND COURTS IN THE WAY IN WHICH SIMILAR OFFENSES ARE HANDLED, 2) FORCEFUL INCENTIVES ARE OFFERED BY THE SYSTEM TO PLEAD GUILTY SINCE THOSE DEFENDANTS WHO PLEAD NOT GUILTY RECEIVE HARSHER SENTENCES ON CONVICTION, AND 3) DEFENDANTS WHO AWAIT TRIAL IN JAIL HAVE LESS CHANCE OF BEING DISMISSED OR ACQUITTED. THE REPORT ALSO FINDS THAT NO OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS EXIST BY WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CAN RATE THE WORK OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, NOR ARE THERE SUFFICIENT DATA SYSTEMS AVAILABLE WHICH ALLOW THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO SYSTEMATICALLY DIAGNOSE PROBLEMS AND FORMULATE POLICIES. FOR A 1976 UPDATE OF THIS DOCUMENT, SEE NCJ-34331. (SNI ABSTRACT)