TOWARD UNDERSTANDING THE OUTCOME OF SERIOUS CRIMINAL CASES IN THE COURTS - SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT A STATISTICAL REPORTING SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 10314
• Author(s): S H CLARKE
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-N1-04-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University of North Carolina
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: MECKLENBURG CRIMINAL JUSTICE PILOT PROJECT

Annotation

OPINIONS ABOUT AN INFORMATION SYSTEM CONCERNING COURT PROCESSING OF SERIOUS CRIMINAL CASES WHERE COURT DATA IS USED TO DETERMINE THE COURT FUNCTION IN SOCIETY.

Abstract

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL COURT PROCESS CAN BE JUDGED BY THREE FACTORS - 1) THE CONVICTION AND APPROPRIATE SENTENCING OF THE GUILTY, 2) THE EXONERATION OF THE INNOCENT, AND 3) THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE REQUIREMENTS OF DUE PROCESS ARE MET. VARIOUS QUESTIONS CONCERNING DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS ARE POSED AND A DATA BASE TO ANSWER SUCH QUESTIONS IF APPROPRIATE STATISTICAL METHODS ARE USED IS SUGGESTED. THESE QUESTIONS CONCERN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OFFENSE, OFFENDER, COURT OUTCOME, THE CAUSES OF DELAY, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BAIL SYSTEM, AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE RIGHT TO DEFENSE COUNSEL IS BEING FULFILLED. THE DATA BASE WOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ON DEFENDANT CRIMINAL RECORDS AND ON OFFENSE AND COURT CASE PROCESSING.