John M. Dawson, Bureau of Justice Statistics

February 1, 1992    NCJ 134500

These findings emerged from the first national survey of prosecutors in more than 15 years as well as a 1988 survey on felony sentencing. The 1990 survey received responses from 290 of a nationally representative sample of 290 chief prosecutors. The surveys revealed that prosecution has had to change to meet new challenges in criminal justice, including the need for increased attention and assistance to crime victims. Results also showed that chief prosecutors employed an average of 10 assistant prosecutors and obtained about 300 felony convictions per year. In 1990, 53 percent of the prosecutors worked at their position full-time compared to 44 percent in 1974. In addition, 36 percent reported adherence to explicit criteria and time limits on plea bargaining, a decrease from 80 percent in 1974. In both 1990 and 1974, about two-thirds of the chief prosecutors were notified of a felony arrest within 24 hours. Tables and appended tables

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