| Those who think that getting information on a | | | | final disposition is with the correctional facility, |
| person with a criminal record is as easy as picking | | | | either in recording that the person has done his |
| up a phone and making a call may find this article | | | | time and was released on a given date, or in the |
| an eye opener. It isn't that you can't get the | | | | case of life without parole, this is then noted.The |
| information. The problem is that part or all of the | | | | problem with the system, is that all of these final |
| information itself may not be available or even | | | | dispositions are recorded in different state |
| recorded.In 2001, states maintained criminal | | | | agencies and while all the information should be |
| records for over 64 million people, but upon | | | | contained in the person's overall record, what is |
| investigation it was determined that many of | | | | too often found is that the agency responsible for |
| these records had reduced usefulness because | | | | the disposition does not forward the information |
| the records themselves were missing important | | | | to the central record keeping location, in most |
| information regarding the arrest or conviction. The | | | | cases the hall of records of the city or town.In |
| Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in conducting | | | | surveys that were conducted it was estimated |
| surveys, discovered that a large proportion of | | | | that about 46% of state agencies did not have |
| criminal records lack what is called a final | | | | complete disposition records on criminal history. |
| disposition. It is this final disposition that indicates | | | | This is a staggering figure when you consider how |
| the final outcome of the arrest.There is a process | | | | many arrests there are each year. When |
| in place that creates a criminal history record. In | | | | surveyed, state agencies reported that state |
| this process you have the arresting agency, the | | | | prosecutors only forward 86% of their |
| prosecutor, the court, and the correctional | | | | dispositions to the proper agency. When asked |
| authority. Any one of these can provide the final | | | | why, their response was that it was another |
| disposition as each arrest can end with a different | | | | agency's responsibility to forward the info.Most of |
| disposition.To give examples we have the | | | | the problem with the system itself is in delays; |
| following:A person is arrested on suspicion of | | | | the delay to get a speedy trial, the length of trials |
| murder. A few days later before a trial date can | | | | themselves and the time spent in correctional |
| be set, the real murderer is apprehended. The | | | | facilities. With all that is involved in a criminal |
| final disposition in this case is that the arresting | | | | record from arrest to sentencing it is no wonder |
| agency, in most cases the police, releases the | | | | that things fall through the cracks. Plus, |
| suspect. This would be the final disposition of this | | | | prosecutors are less likely to report a |
| particular case.Let's take this one step further. | | | | misdemeanour than a felony because of the |
| The person is arrested for the same crime and | | | | paperwork and time involved.One thing the |
| goes to trial. In the trial the person is found not | | | | survey didn't ask is what each agency felt was |
| guilty. The final disposition in this case would be | | | | the solution to this problem. Maybe that was the |
| the court releasing the defendant.In the case of a | | | | first question they should have asked. |
| person who is actually convicted of a crime, the | | | | |