SAN FRANCISCO COMMITTEE ON CRIME - A REPORT ON THE CRIMINAL COURTS OF SAN FRANCISCO - PART 1 - THE SUPERIOR COURT BACKLOG - CONSEQUENCES AND REMEDIES (FOURTH REPORT)

• NCJ Number: 9910
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 73 pages
• Corporate Author: San Francisco Cmtte on Crime
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: FOURTH REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

Annotation

ANALYSIS OF FELONY COURT DELAYS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURTS, THE STATE AND CITY LEGISLATURES, AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES.

Abstract

PLEA BARGAINING IN A JUDGE'S PRESENCE CONSUMES VALUABLE JUDICIAL TIME AND DOES NOT RESULT IN TIME SAVINGS SINCE THE JUDGE MUST AWAIT THE PRESENTENCE REPORT BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DISPOSITION. COMPLEX TRIALS WITH MULTIPLE DEFENDANTS AND ELABORATE MOTIONS PRACTICES TAKE MUCH TIME AND RESULT IN OTHER MATTERS BEING DELAYED. SAN FRANCISCO DEVOTES PROPORTIONATELY LESS OF ITS JUDICIAL MANPOWER TO CRIMINAL CASES THAN DO OTHER CALIFORNIA JURISDICTIONS. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ADDITIONAL COURT PERSONNEL, AT LEAST ON A TEMPORARY BASIS, TO ALLEVIATE THE BACKLOG. IT ALSO URGES A LEGISLATIVE EXAMINATION OF COURT JURISDICTION TO ASSURE AN EFFICIENT AS WELL AS SUFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES. THE APPENDICES INCLUDE A NARRATIVE PRESENTATION OF THE PROCESSING OF FELONY DEFENDANTS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND A TABULAR PRESENTATION OF SELECTED CASES DISPOSED BY WAY OF PLEAS OF GUILTY.