NCJ Number
27591
Date Published
Unknown
Length
146 pages
Annotation
BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF A PRIOR STUDY, 'A STUDY OF WITNESS COOPERATION WITH DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROSECUTORS', THIS HANDBOOK PRESENTS SEVERAL RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES ON THE HANDLING AND TREATMENT OF WITNESSES.
Abstract
THE WITNESS COOPERATION STUDY INVOLVED A HOUSEHOLD SURVEY OF WITNESSES INVOLVED WITH 'STREET CRIME' CASES TO DETERMINE WHY IDENTIFIED WITNESS ARE OFTEN LABELED 'NONCOOPERATORS' BY THE PROSECUTOR. CONSISTENT WITH THAT STUDY'S CONCLUSIONS, THE HANDBOOK STRESSES WITNESSMANAGEMENT PROCEDURES THAT FORGE A CLEAR AND TIMELY COMMUNICATIONS LINK BETWEEN POLICE/PROSECUTOR AND THE WITNESS. NOTING THAT TREATMENT OF WITNESSES IS, ALL TOO OFTEN, NOT CONSISTENT WITH THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN THE PROSECUTORY PROCESS, THE HANDBOOK FIRST EXPLORES THOSE PROCEDURES FOR UPGRADING WITNESS MANAGEMENT THAT SHOULD INVOLVE COOPERATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. AMONG OTHERS, THOSE MEASURES INCLUDE VERIFYING WITNESSES' NAMES AND ADDRESSES, ALLAYING WITNESSES' FEAR OF REPRISAL, BRIEFING WITNESSES REGARDING THEIR ROLE, AND EXPEDITING THE RETURN OF WITNESSES' PROPERTY. PROCEDURES THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED INDEPENDENTLY BY PROSECUTORS ARE THEN DISCUSSED AND PERTAIN TO ADEQUATE WITNESS FEES, WITNESS NOTIFICATION UNITS, STANDBY SUBPOENAS, AND PRIORITIES FOR CAREER-CRIMINAL CASES. APPENDIXES INCLUDE A PROTOTYPE INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE FOR WITNESSES, DETAILS ON THE OPERATION OF A WITNESS NOTIFICATION UNIT, AND A SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE BY WHICH TO OBTAIN WITNESS FEEDBACK. FOR THE REPORT ON THE WITNESS COOPERATION STUDY, SEE NCJ-27592. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)