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PIERCE COUNTY (WA) BUSINESS FRAUD/STOLEN PROPERTY UNIT

NCJ Number
41646
Author(s)
S R BARLOW; M F LAYMAN
Date Published
1977
Length
31 pages
Annotation
THE BUSINESS FRAUD/STOLEN PROPERTY PROGRAM (BF/SP) IS A SPECIALIZED PROSECUTION UNIT WHOSE TARGET CRIMES ARE CONSUMER FRAUD AND STOLEN PROPERTY TRAFFICKING.
Abstract
EVALUATION OF BF/SP DEMONSTRATED THAT THEY HAD GREATLY EXCEEDED CASELOAD EXPECTATIONS DERIVED FROM THE WORK OF SIMILAR PROGRAMS. BF/SP WAS FOUND TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN COMPARABLE PROGRAMS WHEN PRODUCTIVITY WAS MEASURED BY ECONOMIC LOSS, NUMBER OF VICTIMS, AND NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS CHARGED. THE CONVICTION RATE EFFECTED BY BF/SP (93%) WAS GREATER THAN THE LEAA STANDARD FOR SPECIALIZED PROSECUTION UNITS (90%). EVALUATION OF THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF BF/SP INDICATED THAT THEIR PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING WALK-IN COMPLAINTS IS COSTLY RELATIVE TO THE FEW WALK-IN COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED OR ARE FILED IN COURT. IN ADDITION, AGENCIES WHICH REFER TO BF/SP BELIEVED THAT THE PROGRAM COULD ENHANCE THE REFERRAL PROCESS BY PROVIDING EDUCATION TO REFERRAL SOURCES ON THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)