Citizen-Initiated Warrant Review
This review was conducted at the request of the Justice Reinvestment Workgroup which sought a summary analysis of
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citizen-initiated warrants executed in 2011. In total, 160 cases were selected for inspection . Case selection was
random and based on the likelihood of being initiated by a citizen (e.g. worthless check cases are most commonly
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initiated by a citizen) .
During 2011, over 21,000 arrest warrants were executed. Of these, an estimated 5,000 were initiated by a citizen at the
Magistrate’s public window.
Table 1. Complainant
64%
Frequency
Percent
Citizen
102
64%
Officer
58
36%
160
100%
Frequency
Percent
133
83%
14
9%
Not Guilty
6
4%
13 %
Superseding Indictment
6
4%
Disposed By Verdict
Vol. Dismissal w/ Leave
1
1%
160
100%
of Warrants Reviewed
were Citizen-Initiated
Total
Table 2. Disposition - Overall
83 %
Voluntarily Dismissed
Voluntary Dismissal
Guilty
Total
Table 3. Disposition by Complainant
Dismissal Rate Consistent
Between Groups
Officer
Citizen
Voluntary Dismissal
74%
88%
Guilty
10%
8%
5%
3%
Superseding Indictment
10%
0%
Vol Dismissal w/ Leave
0%
1%
Not Guilty
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Time limitation prevented evaluation of a larger sample.
In 58 cases, an officer was listed as the complainant. Rather than discard these, they are included for comparative purposes.
Most Frequent Charges
Communicating Threats
and Worthless Check
46%
Dismissed Because
of No Witness
or Uncooperative Witness
Table 4. Ten Most-Frequent Charges
Frequency
Percent
Communicating Threats
25
16%
Worthless Check
15
9%
Assault or SA – NAPF
13
8%
Larceny - $50 - $199
13
8%
Larceny - $200 & Up
10
6%
Assault or SA – APF
9
6%
Damage to Real Property
8
5%
Injury to Personal Property
8
5%
Larceny- Under $50
7
4%
Unauthorized Use of MV
7
4%
Table 5. Dismissal Reason
*
Percent
No Prosecuting Witness
40
32%
Insufficient Evidence
19
15%
Plea Agreement
17
15%
Uncooperative Witness
15
12%
Reason Not Recorded
15
12%
Cross Warrants
3
2%
Dispute Settlement – Worthless Check
3
2%
Restitution Paid
3
2%
Bad Address/Phone
3
2%
Per Prosecuting Witness
2
2%
Age
2
2%
Rejected at Screening
1
1%
Subpoena Not Sent
1
1%
Prosecution Witness Incorrect on Affidavit
1
1%
Compliance
1
1%
Defendant Contact w/ Victim
1
1%
Duplicate Warrants Filed
1
1%
Freq
* Five shucks were unavailable for review.
Figure 1. Number Court Dates to Dismissal
*
366
Court Dates
to Reach Dismissal
Average Court Dates
per Dismissed Case
50
Frequency
2.29
60
53
45
40
30
* Includes First Appearance date
20
10
17
4
7
0
1
2
3
4
Court Dates
5
3
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