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EastTennesseeStateUniversityDigitalCommons@EastTennesseeStateUniversityElectronicThesesandDissertationsStudentWorks5-2002RoleofPolice,ProsecutorsandDefenseAttorneysinTrafficAccidentInvestigationandAdjudicationinChattanooga,Tennessee.
KarenL.
BeiselEastTennesseeStateUniversityFollowthisandadditionalworksat:https://dc.
etsu.
edu/etdPartoftheCriminologyandCriminalJusticeCommonsThisThesis-OpenAccessisbroughttoyouforfreeandopenaccessbytheStudentWorksatDigitalCommons@EastTennesseeStateUniversity.
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RecommendedCitationBeisel,KarenL.
,"RoleofPolice,ProsecutorsandDefenseAttorneysinTrafficAccidentInvestigationandAdjudicationinChattanooga,Tennessee.
"(2002).
ElectronicThesesandDissertations.
Paper650.
https://dc.
etsu.
edu/etd/650RoleofPolice,ProsecutorsandDefenseAttorneysinTrafficAccidentInvestigationandAdjudicationinChattanooga,Tennessee.
AthesispresentedtothefacultyoftheDepartmentofCriminalJustice/CriminologyEastTennesseeStateUniversityInpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforthedegreeMastersofArtsinCriminalJustice/CriminologyByKarenL.
BeiselMay2002Dr.
JohnT.
Whitehead,ChairDr.
LarryS.
MillerDr.
DavidW.
HolleranIIIKeywords:Traffic,Accident,Investigation,Reconstruction,Prosecutors,DefenseAttorneys2ABSTRACTRoleofPolice,ProsecutorsandDefenseAttorneysinTrafficAccidentInvestigationandAdjudicationinChattanooga,Tennessee.
byKarenL.
BeiselThisstudyprovides,viapersonalinterviews,aqualitativeexaminationofpolice,districtattorneys,publicdefenders,andprivateattorneyswhowereinvolvedintrafficaccidentinvestigationandcriminalcourtadjudicationinChattanooga,Tennessee.
Thesedatawerecompiledtodevelopaprofileoftheactorsandtheirinvolvementintheprocessofacriminalchargestemmingfromatrafficaccident.
Theliteraturesuggeststhattheactorsworkasateamtoprocessacasefrominvestigationtoadjudication;however,theactorsinChattanooga,Tennesseewerefragmentedintheirhandlingofacase.
Thisstudycollectivelyexaminespoliceandattorneysinrelationtotrafficissues.
3DEDICATIONFirst,andforemost,Idedicatethisworktomylovingparents,KinneyandShirley,mybrother,Kenneth,andoneofthebestfriendsapersoncouldeverbeblessedwith,myfriendCristinaVann.
Thankyouallsomuchforthelove,support,andencouragementyou'vegivenmetheselastfewyears.
Iwouldhaveneverhavemadeitthroughwithoutyou.
SomanytimeswhenIwantedtogiveup,youwouldn'tletme.
Youneverstoppedbelievinginme,evenwhenIdidn'tbelieveinmyself.
I'llalwaysloveyouforthat.
IwouldalsoliketodedicatethistomyfriendswhoIaffectionatelyrefertoas"ThePosse,"LenoraMcClendon,LaShaundaOdom,andAlondaHolland.
BetterknownasBaybay,Cutie,andTuga.
Thanksforyourlaughs,yoursmiles,andyourfriendship.
IknowI'vebeenanabsolutebeartheselastfewmonths.
Iappreciateyouputtingupwithmylousymoodsandmygrumblingandeatingmycooking.
Ifthat'snotatruetestoffriendship,Idon'tknowwhatis.
Thankyou.
I'mgladIhaveyouinmylife.
Last,andmostimportantly,thisisdedicatedtomyLordandSaviorJesusChrist.
Somanytimesthesepastyearstherehasonlybeenonesetoffootprintsinthesand.
Thankyou.
Pleasegivemethestrengthandcouragetolivemylifeforyou.
4ACKNOWLEDGMENTSExtraSpecialThanksTo:Themembersofmycommittee,Dr.
JohnT.
Whitehead,Chair,Dr.
LarryS.
Miller,andDr.
DavidW.
HolleranIII;Dr.
WesleyBrown,DeanofGraduateStudies;andDr.
PaulStanton,President.
Thankyouforyourtime,patience,andunderstanding.
SpecialThanksTo:TheChattanooga,TennesseePoliceDepartment'sTrafficDivision;TheDUI/TrafficDivisionoftheChattanooga/HamiltonCountyDistrictAttorney'soffice;TheChattanooga/HamiltonCountyPublicDefender'soffice;A.
ChristianLanierIII;andNealL.
Thompson.
Thankyouforyourtimeandassistanceincompletionofthefieldstudyportionofmythesis.
Also,specialthankstoDr.
LarryRoyerandDr.
RiazSheikhforallowingmetimeoffworkwheneverIneededinordertocompletethistask.
ThanksTo:ThelibrarystaffsofUniversityofTennessee—Knoxville,UniversityofTennessee—Chattanooga,UniversityofKentucky—Richmond,VanderbiltUniversity,MiddleTennesseeStateUniversity,ChattanoogaState,UniversityofGeorgia-Athens,VirginiaTechUniversity,RadfordUniversity,SouthwestVirginiaCommunityCollege,KingCollege,BluefieldCollege,andEastTennesseeStateUniversity;TheEastTennesseeStateUniversityHousingOfficeforajobsothatIcouldcompletemycoursework;TheEastTennesseeStateUniversityPublicSafetyOfficeandJohnsonCityGeographicInformationSystemsOfficeforassistanceonpreviousworkformythesis.
5CONTENTSPageABSTRACT2DEDICATION3ACKNOWLEDGMENTS4Chapter1.
INTRODUCTION.
7Scenario7Introduction8PurposeofTheStudy.
8DefinitionofTerms.
9Limitations.
92.
LITERATUREREVIEW.
10PoliceandInvestigation10Attorneys,ProcessingandAdjudication.
.
.
.
.
.
.
153.
METHODS19SampleSelection19StudyDevelopment20InterviewProcess214.
RESULTS24Police24Attorneys29Prosecutor.
29PublicDefender.
32PrivateDefenseAttorneys.
34Summary376ChapterPage5.
CONCLUSIONS&IMPLICATIONS.
41Police41Attorneys42Prosecutor.
42PublicDefenderandPrivateDefenseAttorneys43Implications44BIBLIOGRAPHY46APPENDICES51AppendixA:AdditionalReadings.
52AppendixB:InformedConsent.
55AppendixC:TrafficOfficerInterviewSchedule.
.
.
.
.
58AppendixD:ProsecutorInterviewSchedule.
61AppendixE:PublicDefenderInterviewSchedule.
.
.
.
.
64AppendixF:DefenseAttorneyInterviewSchedule.
.
.
.
67VITA707CHAPTER1INTRODUCTIONScenarioA9-1-1callcameinat11:00p.
m.
foraRTA(roadtrafficaccident)onaninterstaterunningthroughthecitylimits.
Uponarrivingatthescene,acityofficerobservedthewreckage.
Ateenagewhitemalewaslyinginthefastlaneoftheoppositeflowingtrafficwithglassscatteredaroundhim.
AJeepwasstoppedinfrontoftheboywiththehazardsignalsflashing.
Amanwaskneelingnexttotheboytalkingonacellularphone.
Aredsportscarwasturnedsidewaysinthesecondandthirdlanesofflowingtraffic.
Therewasdamagetotherightrear,leftfront,andthewindshieldwasbrokenout.
Atractor-trailerwasjack-knifedofftherightsideoftheroad.
Thetrailerwasextendedintothefirstlane.
Therewasdamagetotheleftfrontpanelofthetractor.
Thedriverwasnotinthetruck.
Therewasdamagetotherightfrontofthetrailerwhereaminivanhadhitit.
Theleftfrontquadrantoftheminivanwascrushedunderthetrailer.
Thedriverwasnotvisiblebecauseofthedamage.
Thefrontpassengerwasanadultwomanwhoappearedtohaveheadinjuries.
Therewasashatteredcircleinthewindshieldonthepassengerside.
Asmallchildwasalsointhefrontwithheadinjuries.
Anotherchildwasinachildseatinthebackwithnoapparentinjuries.
Amanonacellularphonewasstandingnexttotheminivantalkingtothewoman.
Thetrafficaccidentinvestigationtakesthisscenetoconclusionincourt.
8IntroductionEverydaymillionsofAmericansdrivetonumerousdestinations.
Whetherthey'regoingdownthestreettorunanerrandoracrossthecountryforvacation,theydrive.
Throughallthisdriving,thethreatofdeathisn'tthemostpressingthingontheirminds.
However,intheyear1999,41,717peoplelosttheirlivesintrafficaccidents("FatalityAnalysisReportingSystem(FARS)Web-BasedEncylopedia",May28,2001).
TrafficaccidentsarethefifthleadingcauseofdeathinAmericabehindonlyheartdisease,cancer,stroke,andchroniclowerrespiratorydiseases("Deaths:PreliminaryDatafor1999",2001).
Trafficaccidentsarethenumberonecauseofdeathforpeopleaged1-34("FatalityFacts:General(asofOctober2000)",June3,2001).
Heartdisease,cancer,andstrokeshaveprovenlinkstonutrition("Howhealthyisyourdiet",2001).
Witheachofthese,thepatientandphysicianswoulddeviseaplanfortreatment.
Theywoulddiscusstheroleofeach,andwhateffecteachhasontheothers.
Atrafficaccidentismuchthesame.
Eachactorhasaroletoplayintrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudication,fromthepoliceofficertotheprosecutorandthedefenseattorney.
Theyallhavedefinitiveactionstheymustcompleteinorderforanaccidenttocompletetheprocesstoadjudication.
Becauseeachtrafficaccidentisasuniqueastheindividualsinvolvedintheaccident,thisstudywillfocusonthecommonactorsusuallyinvolvedinanaccident.
PurposeOfTheStudyThisstudywillexaminetherolesofthepolice,prosecutor,publicdefender,andprivatedefenseattorneysintheprocessoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudication.
Theresearcherinterviewedmembersofeachprofessiontodevelopaprofileofeach9andtofacilitateanunderstandingoftheirroleintheprocess.
Theperspectivesoftheactorswereexaminedaswellastheirperceptionsoftheirroleintheoverallprocess.
DefinitionofTermsForthepurposeofthisstudy,seriousinjurywillbedefinedasanyinjurythatincapacitatesthevictimtothedegreeinwhichhe/shemustbetransportedtothehospitalforfurthertreatment,includingsurgeryorextendedhospitalization.
Police,officerortrafficaccidentinvestigatorwillrefertoanindividualwhoseprimaryfunctionistoenforcelaws,patrol,andinvestigate.
ThetermProsecutorandDistrictAttorneymaybeusedinterchangeably.
Thistermreferstoanindividualwhooperatesasthestate'sagenttopresent,charge,andadjudicatecrimesthroughthecourtsystem.
APublicDefenderisalsoastateagent,buthis/herresponsibilityistodefendindividuals,typicallyindigent,whohavebeenchargedwithacrimeinthecourtsystem.
APrivateDefenseAttorneyisanofficerofthecourtwhodefendsanindividualagainstchargesbroughtbythestate.
Unlike,thePublicDefender,thePrivateDefenseAttorneyisn'tanagentofthestate,ratherhe/sheispaidafeeforhis/herservices.
LimitationsBecausethisstudyexaminespeopleandtheirself-reportedperceptions,theaccountsoftherolesoftheactorsintrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudicationprocessmaynotbecompletelyobjective.
Furthermore,becausethisisjustonestudyofonemedium-sizedcityintheSoutheast,theresultsaremostgeneralizabletomedium-sizedcitiesintheSoutheast.
Becauseofthelowresponserate(SeeChapter4),evengeneralizingtosuchcitiesshouldbedoneverycautiously.
10CHAPTER2LITERATUREREVIEWAutomobileswereintroducedtotheAmericancultureoveronehundredyearsago,andshortlythereaftersowasthefirstroadtrafficaccident(RTA).
However,thefirstofficialpolicerecordsoftrafficaccidentsdidnotbeginuntil1926(Lavender,2000).
Inthelast75years,studiesandliteratureregardingtrafficaccidentshavebeenlimited,atbest.
Trafficaccidentsareacriticalissueforeveryoneinvolved.
Theyarethefifthleadingcauseofdeath,ingeneral,aswellastheleadingcauseofdeathforpoliceofficers("TrafficAccidentsAreTheNumberOneKillerOfLawEnforcementOfficers",1999).
Morerecently,ambulanceshavebeenfoundtobeinvolvedinadisproportionatelyhighincidenceofaccidentswhenrespondingtoemergencies(Davis,2002).
Inaddition,anewphenomenoncalled"roadrage"hasovertakenthedriversonthehighways,leadingtoassaultsanddeaths("PDstraintheirsightsonroadrage",2001).
Recentstudieshaveshownthat"roadrage"isnowmorefearedthandrunkdrivers(Connell&Joint,1997;Joint,1997;Mizell,1997).
Withthesenewtraffic-relatedproblems,aswellasthetraditionaltrafficissues,theunderstandingandstudyoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudicationaremoreimportantthanever.
PoliceandInvestigationBecausethepolicearethefirsttorespondtothesesituations,theyshouldpossessthemostknowledgeabouttrafficaccidents.
However,mostlawenforcementandcriminaljusticetextbooksdonotextensivelydiscusstrafficaccident11investigation.
Iftheliteraturedoesmentiontrafficaccidentinvestigation,itisverybrieflysummarized.
AnexcellentexampleofthisisRowland's(1994)TheLawEnforcementHandbook.
Rowlandgivesadetailedoutlineforhisexplanationoftrafficaccidentinvestigation.
Hedoesnotexpoundontheissues,merelyliststhemaspossibilities(Rowland,1994).
Manycriminaljusticeandlawenforcementtextbooksexplaintrafficaccidentsinashortsentenceortwounderageneraltrafficenforcementheading.
Eitherway,theauthorssuggestthattrafficistheleastlikedandoftenmostignoredaspectofpolicing(Hess&Wrobleski,1993).
Therearetwoexceptionstothistrend,however.
ThefirstisTheTraffic-AccidentInvestigationManual.
Asof1986,thenintheditionofthistextwaspublished.
Thefirsteditionwaspublishedin1940andwasoneofthefirsttextstoprovidemorethana"scantoutline"abouttrafficaccidentinvestigation.
CurrentlyTheTraffic-AccidentInvestigationManualconsistsoftwovolumes.
Thefirstismainlyconcernedwiththeinformation-gatheringandrecordingoftrafficaccidents.
Thesecondvolumeisaboutreconstructionoftrafficaccidents,specificallythemathematicalequationsandformulasnecessarytocompletereconstruction(Baker&Fricke,1986).
BecauseTheTraffic-AccidentInvestigationManualisacontinuousworkthatisupdatedwithneweditions,therearenotchaptersbutsegments.
Segmentsthatwereinpreviouseditionshavethesamenumbersasinthepreviouseditions.
Newsegmentshavedifferentnumbers.
ThistypeofnumberingallowstheaccidentinvestigationprofessionalwhoisfamiliarwithpreviouseditionsofTheTrafficAccidentInvestigationManualtoreferencethespecificsectionneeded.
Themanualalsodiscussessomeofthenewertechnologiesavailabletotrafficaccidentinvestigationprofessionals,suchasphotogrammetry.
TheChattanoogaTrafficdivisionrecentlyacquiredthephotogrammetryequipmenttoaidthemintheirabilityto12quicklycompleteanaccidentsceneworkup(Cook,2000).
Photogrammetryistheuseofphotographytohelpaidinvestigatorsindevelopingmaps,andisoneofthefirsttoolstobeusedtobeginreconstructionofanaccident(Baker&Fricke,1986).
Onesetofmeasurementsistakenandphotographed.
Allotherphotographsaretakeninrelationtothebeginningphotographsthathadthemeasurements.
Thisinformationisfedintoatrafficreconstructioncomputerprogramthatallowstheinvestigatortoexaminetheaccidentthroughthisdetailedinformation(Cook,2000).
TheTraffic-AccidentInvestigationManualisanexcellentsourcebookfortheexperiencedtrafficaccidentinvestigationprofessional.
However,forthebeginnerthistextcanbeoverwhelming.
AmoresuitabletextisDonaldJ.
VanKirk'sVehicularAccidentInvestigationandReconstruction(VanKirk,2001).
VanKirkcoversmuchofthesameinformationasBakerandFricke;however,heexpoundsonthosesubjectsandintroducesseveralotherpertinenttopics.
Asidefrombeingmoreup-to-date,theinformationinVehicularAccidentInvestigationandReconstructionismoreconciseandthorough.
VanKirkexamineseachtopicwithastudent-mentortypeexplanation,allowingthereadertodevelopanunderstandingandappreciationfornotonlythestepsinvolvedineachprocessbutalsothereasoningbehindthosesteps.
Throughthislearningenvironment,theinvestigatorgainstheknowledgeofhowtoconductaproperinvestigationandsometimesmoreimportantlytheknowledgeofwhytoinvestigate.
Tofurtherthereader'sunderstanding,VanKirkincludescommentaryandreal-lifeincidentstoassistinexplainingtopics.
VanKirknotonlyexplainstheinformationmorethoroughlythanBakerandFricke,healsoincludesmoretopicsthatareimportanttoatrafficaccidentinvestigator.
VehicularAccidentInvestigationandReconstructionalsoincludestopicsoncourtroom13presentations,litigation,education,andethics.
VanKirkdiscusseseachofthesetopicsinthesamestudent-mentormethodthathepresentstheinvestigationprocess.
Thecourtroompresentationandlitigationchaptersemphasizetheimportanceoftheteamworkthatmustbepracticedbytheinvestigatorandtheattorneysinordertobesuccessfulincourt(VanKirk,2001).
Furthermore,VanKirkincludesachapteronethics.
Eventhoughthereisn'talargeamountofliteratureontrafficaccidentinvestigation,therearevolumesofliteratureonpoliceandpolicing.
Ofparticularimportanceandrelativity,isthestressandhazardsofthelifeofapoliceofficer.
Fromthebeatcoptothechief,therearecertainstressorsrelatedtoeachjobthatcanaffectthatperson'sabilitytodothatjob.
Thetrafficofficer/accidentinvestigatorisnodifferent.
Countlessstudies,books,andarticleshavebeenpublisheddiscussingthedangersofpoliceworkandtheeffectithasontheofficersinvolved(Hess&Wrobleski,1993;Kappeler,1993;Kates,1999;"PoliceStress",2002;Tye,1998).
Todayanarmedthugmaynotnecessarilybethemostdeadlythinganofficerwillface,insteaditcouldbethestresstheofficerfeelshavingtodealwiththisandnumerousothersituations.
Policehavea2.
34timesgreaterriskofheartdiseasethananaverageindividual(Tye,1998).
Apoliceofficerdealswiththingsthattheaveragecitizenmayneversee,suchasseriousandfatalaccidents.
Eventhoughtheyaretrainedtohandlesuchthings,anofficerisnotarobotandatsomepointwillhavetodealwiththeirownemotions("PoliceStress",Feb.
17,2002).
Notonlydoesanofficerhavetofacethetraditionalstressorsofthejob,buthe/shemustalsodealwithorganizationalstress(Finn,1997).
Thiscanbeassimpleasinadequatepayorascomplexascivilliabilitylawsuits.
Apoliceofficerisasmallpartofabiggersystem.
Budgetcutsandstaffingproblemscan14createstressfortheofficerbecausesuchproblemscreatemoreworkforfewerpeople.
Thistypeofadministrativedecision-makingleavestheofficerwithlittleornocontroloverhis/herenvironment,whichcancausestress.
Organizationalstressalsocomesintheformofpoliciesandprocedures(Finn,1997).
Policiesandproceduresofpolicedepartmentsprovidethestructureandorderforofficers.
Thistermmayspelloutwhenbreaksaretobetaken,butitmayalsoincludeproceduresforhigh-speedchases.
Thepoliciesandprocedureswilllikelyincludesectionsontheuseofforce,suchastheNewYorkPoliceDepartment'spolicyonshootingafleeingfelonifhe/shedoesn'tposeanimmediatethreat.
InKate's(1999)bookCopShock:SurvivingPosttraumaticStressDisorder(PTSD),anofficerrecountsherstoryofbeingseverelybeatenbyasubjectwhothencalmlywalksawayjustastheofficerisabletopullherserviceweapon.
Duetothedepartment'spolicyonfleeingfelons,shewasnotpermittedtoshootthesuspectdespitethefactthathehadassaultedher.
ThehelplessnessofthissituationcausedtheofficertosufferfromPTSD.
Policiesandproceduresofthedepartmentcannotonlyaffecttheofficersbutultimatelymayaffectthecommunityinwhichtheofficersserve.
High-speedpursuits,inparticular,canresultinthedeathofinnocentpeople.
Somedeathsmaybepreventableifthedepartment'spursuitpolicywasaltered.
AnexcellentexampleofthisisthecaseinvolvingtheUnitedStatesBorderPatrol,inwhichateenagerwaskilledwhentheBorderPatrolpursuedasuspectthroughaschoolzone(Page,2002).
Invariably,lawsuitswillarisefrompoliciesorproceduresthatareinadequateornegligentinnature.
Theliabilityissuesfromsuchcasescanalsocreatestressfortheofficer.
VictorE.
Kappeler(1993)discussesseveraltopicsofpotentialcivilliabilityduetoproceduraldecision-makinginhisbookCriticalIssuesInPoliceCivil15Liability,includingpotentialnegligenceattrafficaccidentscenes.
Atrafficaccident,inandofitself,isastressfulsituationparticularlywhenaseriousinjuryorfatalityisinvolved.
Forofficersitisevenmorestressful.
Notonlymusttheofficerdealwithhis/heremotionsofseeingatraumaticscene,buthe/shehasadutytocompletethreeveryimportantanddistinctlyseparateresponsibilities.
First,theofficerhasaresponsibilitytomaintainorderandfunctionasatrafficcontroller.
He/Shemustdiverttrafficaroundthescenewithoutcausingadditionalaccidentsorchaos.
Whiledoingso,he/shewillalsohavetoactasafirstresponderforemergencymedicalneedsaswellastherequestforadditionalassistance,ifneeded.
Finally,theofficerisaninvestigatorwhomustsecurethesceneandprocesstheinformationandevidence(Kappeler,1993).
Theinvestigationcanprovetobestressfulaswell.
Theofficermustquestionpeoplewhohavebeeninvolvedinatraumaticevent.
Thisprocesscanbefrustratingattimesduetothemyraiddescriptionsgivenbywitnessestotheofficer.
Afterquestioningthewitnesses,theofficermayfeelasifhe/sheisnoclosertoanyanswerthanwhenhebegan(Badger,1994).
Thatmakestheofficer'sjobofrecreatingthescenemoredifficultbecausephysicalevidencemaybelimited(Badger,2001a).
Withlimitedphysicalevidenceorerroneousfacts,thereconstructionprocesscanbetainted(Badger,2001b).
Howtheofficerhandlesthesedifficultieswillhaveaneffectontherestoftheprocess.
Attorneys,ProcessingandAdjudicationWhenfirstintroducedtothecriminaljusticesystem,astudentistaughtthatthesystemisanadversarialprocessin16whichtheprosecutorisbattlingthedefenseattorneyincourt(Samaha,1991).
Ifastudentcontinuestolawschool,he/sheistaughthowtowritemotionsandotherprocedurallessons(Heumann,1981).
TheConstitutionincludestheamendmentsguaranteeingfairandspeedytrialsandotherbasicrightsinvolvingcourtprocedures.
However,thepracticeoflawisnotasadversarialassuggested.
Thepracticeoflawismorerepresentativeofacourtteam.
Theprosecutor,defenseattorney,andjudgeworktogethertospeedcasesthroughtheadjudicationprocess(Feeley,2000).
Manysuggestthatthispracticeisduetothenumberofcasesthatmustbehandled;however,Heumann's(1981)studyfailstofindsupportforthisclaim.
Heumann(1981)studiedtheprocessofnewattorneysadaptingtothepracticeofcriminallawandtherealityoftheirposition.
Heexaminedthewaystheyweretrainedtopracticelawasapartofateam,insteadoftheadversarialcombattheylearnedinlawschool.
Heumann(1981)observedthetacticsthatseasonedattorneysusedonnewattorneysinordertohavethemconformtothepracticeofmovingcasesthroughcourtexpeditiously.
Baker's(1999)book,D.
A.
:ProsecutorsinTheirOwnWords,presentssimilarstoriesaboutnewattorneysbeingorientedintotheactualpracticeoflawinday-to-daycircumstances.
SeparatestudiesbyBaker(1999),Heumann(1981),andBlumberg(1993)discussthecharacteristicsandtheimportanceofthecourtteaminthecriminaljusticeprocess.
Anexcellentexampleofthisishowtheyworktogetherinthepleabargainingprocess.
Pleabargainingistheprimarywayacaseisquicklyadjudicatedandanessentialcomponentoftheadministrationofjustice(Ferdico,1996).
However,prosecutorsprefertotermitpleaagreements(Baker,1999).
RobertsandStratton(2000)suggestthatthispracticeishinderingthepurposeofthecriminaljusticesystem,whichistofindthetruth.
Nomatterwhattheview,plea17bargainingisanimportanttoolinthecriminaljusticesystemandisanexcellentexampleofhowtheprosecutoranddefenseattorneyworktogether(Feeley,2000).
Likeotherprofessions,particularlythosethatinvolveaidingothers,attorneyshavecertainstressorsthatareapartofthejob.
Compensationisaprimarystresstoattorneys,whetheritisthedistrictattorneyandthepublicdefenderhavingtofacethedilemmaofnotenoughfundingtocompletetheirjob,ortheprivateattorneyworkinglonghourstohaveaprofitafteroverheadcosts.
Lawisabusinessthatmustbeprofitableinordertocontinuetofunction(Carter,2002).
Publicdefendersandprosecutorsalsohavethestressoflargecaseloadsandlownumbersofstafftohandlethesecaseloads.
Thisoftenleavestheattorneysfeelingasiftheyareunabletoproperlyrepresenttheirclients(Gibeaut,2001b).
Districtattorneysandpublicdefendersalsohavethestressoflegislativeandpoliticalpressuresversustheirabilitytohumanizetheirclientsandtheirexperiences.
Oftenthedecisiontheprosecutororthepublicdefendermakeswillhaveaprofoundeffectonsomeone'slifeandthelivesoftheirfamily(Conner,Zion,&Mishler,2001).
Thedistrictattorney,inparticular,determineswhoischargedforcrimesandwhatcrimesarecharged.
Thisprocessusedtobemoredifficultwhenhe/shewasdealingwithfatalitiescausedbydrunkdriversbecauseofthedifficultiesofshowingculpabilityandintentundertraditionalhomicidecharges.
However,duetopressureplacedonlegislatures,thecreationofvehicularhomicidestatuteshasmadeitsimpler(Dietrich,1997).
Stillthedistrictattorneysometimeshastofacethedecisionofwhowilldieornotincasesthatinvolvethedeathpenalty.
Thatisanenormousresponsibilityandsourceofstress(Gibeaut,2001a).
Thepracticeoflawevolveseverydayasnewlegislationispassedoranewcourtrulingismade;therefore,an18attorneymustmaintainaconstantdesiretolearnsohe/shecancompete.
Despitetheexaminedliterature'svarietyandvitality,thefactremainsthattheliteratureislimitedintheareaoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudication.
Thisshowstheneedtoprovidemorestudiestoexaminetheissues.
Eventhoughtheliteratureislimited,whatdoesexistisveryconciseandinformativeforthetrafficaccidentinvestigationprofessional.
Withnewlawsandnewtechnologyeveryday,thetrafficaccidentinvestigationprofessionalmustcontinuetosearchformoreinformationandlearnasmuchaspossibletoremainup-to-date.
19CHAPTER3METHODSThisstudyfocusesontheroleofthepolice,prosecutor,publicdefender,andprivatedefenseattorneysintheprocessoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudication.
Theresearcherwillexamineeachoftherolesofthemainactorstodevelopadeeperunderstandingoftheirimportanceintheprocessofaccidentadjudicationaswellastheirperceptionsoftheirrole.
In-depthinterviewswereconductedwithseveralaccidentinvestigators,prosecutors,publicdefenders,anddefenseattorneystoachievethis.
Interviewsurveysweredevelopedforeachmajorcharactertoexaminehis/herspecificroleintheprocess,howhe/shegoesaboutdoinghis/herjob,theperceptionofhis/herroleintheprocessandanyspecialexpertisethejobrequires.
SampleSelectionTheresearcherexaminedthecityofChattanooga,Tennessee.
Chattanoogaisthefourthlargestcityinthestate("AboutChattanooga",July8,2001).
Ithasapopulationofapproximately153,000,andisthecountyseatforHamiltonCounty("Chattanooga",July8,2001).
TheChattanoogapolicedepartmenthasatrafficdivisionconsistingof10investigatorsandtwosergeantsandalieutenant.
In2000,theTrafficDivisioninvestigated36fatalcollisions,ofwhichtherewere12fatalitiesrelatedtoalcoholanddrugs("StatisticalInformation,Initiatives,andAnnualReport:2000Chief'sAnnualReportToTheCityCouncil",June30,2001).
20BecauseofthesizeofChattanoogainrelationtoHamiltonCounty,mostgovernmentofficesareChattanooga-HamiltonCountycombined.
TheDistrictAttorney'sofficehas20attorneys,allofwhomhavesomeexperienceinhandlingtraffic-relatedcases.
ThePublicDefender'sofficehas13attorneys,allofwhomhavesomeexperienceinhandlingtraffic-relatedcases.
Furthermore,thereareseveraldefenseattorneyfirmsintheChattanoogaareathatspecializeintrafficrelatedlitigation.
Itwasintendedthatinterviewswouldbeconductedwithfourtofiveindividualswithineachagencyinordertodevelopthein-depthanalysistheresearcherwassearchingfor.
Aswillbeexplainedbelow,however,theoriginalplanofstudywasdisruptedtosomeextent.
Suggestionsforpossibleavoidanceoftheseproblemswillbepresentedinthefinalchapter.
StudyDevelopmentInlatespringandearlysummerof2001,theresearchercontactedtheDistrictAttorney'sDUI/TrafficDivisionsupervisor,thePublicDefender,thelieutenantoftheTrafficDivisionoftheChattanoogaPoliceDepartment,andtheseniorpartnerofalargeattorney'sfirmthatspecializedintrafficlitigation.
Theresearchergaveadetaileddescriptionofthestudythatshewasattemptingandrequestedtheirparticipationinthestudy.
Eachenthusiasticallyagreedtoparticipateandstatedthattheresearcherwouldbeabletospeaktofiveorsixindividualsintheirrespectiveoffices.
Afterthephoneconversations,theresearchersentlettersfurtherexplainingthestudyandrequestingconfirmationoftheagreementofparticipation.
Allagenciesrespondedthattheywouldparticipate.
21Withconfirmation,theresearcherbegandesigningthespecificinterviewschedulesforeachdifferentactor.
Duetothefocusofthestudyandbasedontheresearcher'sreadingsandpreviouspersonalexperience,theschedulesweredesignedinsuchawaytoelicitopendialoguewhilepreventinglengthyresponses.
Open-endedquestionswereusedsothattherespondentcouldfreelysharelifeexperiencesandrelateon-the-jobstories.
However,thequestionswerestructuredinsuchawaytoinducetheintervieweetoconsiderspecifictimeframesortopselectionsassuggestedbytheresearcher'schairofhercommittee.
Thisallowedforopendiscussionwhilemaintainingacentripetalfocus.
ThechairsuggestedtotheresearchertoalsoincludesomeLikertscalequestionsforstatisticalandcomparisonreasons.
Thesequestionsinparticularfocusedontheviewoftheactorontheroleoftheotheractorsintheprocess.
Eachinterviewsurveywasspecificallydevelopedforeachactor'srole.
ThesurveysareinAppendixC-F.
InterviewProcessInlatefall,theresearcherbegancontactingtheagenciestobegintheinterviewprocess.
Allhadforgottentheiragreementtoparticipate,aswellastheletterdescribingthestudy.
Again,however,theyallagreedtoparticipate.
Theresearcherbegansettingupinterviewtimes.
Appointmentsweresetwitheachagency,butveryfewwerekept.
ThelieutenantattheTrafficDivisionwascontactedtosetupappointmentswithhimandhisofficerstoconductinterviews.
Heinformedtheresearcherthatthey'dhadseveralpromotionsandpeopleleaving,andatthattimetheywerenotfullystaffed.
Theresearcherrequestedtointerviewthosewhowerepresentand22willingtoparticipate.
Hestatedthathedidn'thavesufficientpersonneltobringhisofficersoutofthefieldtoparticipateintheinterviews.
Hence,theLieutenantsuggestedthatthesurveysbeleftatthedepartment,andhewouldhavehissergeantgivethemtotheofficerstocomplete.
Theresearcherexplainedtothelieutenanttheimportanceoftheinterviewprocessinherstudy.
Hestatedthatthiswastheonlywayhewouldallowtheirparticipation.
Theresearcherconceded.
WhentheDistrictAttorney'sDUI/TrafficDivisionsupervisorwascontacted,henotifiedtheresearcherthateventhoughtherewere15-20attorneysintheoffice,hewastheonlyonewhohandledtrafficrelatedcases.
Undaunted,theresearcherattemptedtosetupatimetointerviewtheAssistantDistrictAttorney.
Itwasnotpossiblefortheattorneytosetasideenoughtimetodotheentireinterviewinonesitting.
Therefore,severalshortmeetingswereusedtogleantheinformation,andthoseoccasionallytookplaceinthehallwaysastheDistrictAttorneyranfromonecourtroomtothenext.
ThePublicDefender'sofficewasequallyasdifficultregardingdatacollection.
Whencontacted,theyalsonotifiedtheresearcherthatonlytwoorthreeattorneysdealtwithtraffic-relatedcases.
Oneattorneywaswillingtoparticipate.
Theresearcherinquiredastowhytheotherswerenotwillingtoparticipate.
Shewastoldthattheyjustdidn'thavethetime.
Theresearcheraskedwouldtheyparticipateiftheydidn'thavetodoaninterview,butjustfilloutthesurvey.
Again,shewastoldthatnooneelsewouldparticipate.
SoonlyonePublicDefenderwasinterviewed.
Theresearcherscheduledanappointmentwiththeprivateattorney'sfirmthathadagreedtoparticipate.
Uponarrivingattheoffice,theresearcherwasinformedthattheseniorpartnerwasoutoftheoffice.
Theresearchertriedtoreschedulebutwas23unabletodoso.
Theresearcherleftacopyofthesurveyandstatedthatshewouldcallthefollowingdaytorescheduleatime.
Thatnighttheseniorpartnercalledandstatedthathedidn'thavetimetodealwiththis"bullshit"andthathewouldn'tpermittheattorneysinhisofficetowastetheirtimedealingwithiteither.
Hestatedthattheyhadmoreimportantthingstodo.
Theresearcherbeganthesearchtofindanyprivatedefenseattorneyswhohadsomeexperiencewithtrafficrelatedcasesthatwouldbewillingtoparticipate.
Shewentthroughtheyellowpagescallingfirms.
Theresearchercontacted22attorneystotal.
Allrefusedtoparticipate.
Whencomplainingtoacolleague,theresearcherwastoldthathiswifeworkedforanattorney'sfirm.
Theresearchercontactedthefirm,andtwooftheattorneysagreed.
Thethirdmemberofthefirmonlydealswithprobateandestatematters.
Thenextdaytheinterviewswerecompleted.
Afteralltheinterviewswerecollected,theresearchersentthankyouletterstoallparticipants.
Thetaskofcompilingthedatathenbegan.
24CHAPTER4RESULTSThisstudyfocusesontheroleofthepolice,prosecutor,publicdefenderandprivatedefenseattorneysintheprocessoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudication.
Theresearcherwillexamineeachoftherolesofthemaincharacterstodevelopaprofileofeachactorandtofacilitateanunderstandingoftheirroleintheprocessofaccidentinvestigationandadjudicationaswellastheirperceptionsoftheirrole.
Asdescribedearlier,theresearcherplannedtointerviewfourtofivemembersofeachorganization.
TheresearcherrequestedassistancefromtheChattanooga,TennesseePoliceDepartment'sTrafficDivision,theChattanooga/HamiltonCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice,theChattanooga/HamiltonCountyPublicDefender'sOfficeandlocalprivateattorneyswhohandledalargevolumeoftrafficrelatedcases.
Volunteerswereaskedavarietyofquestionsregardingtheirbackground,experiencesonthejob,andviewsoftheirrole—-aswellasothers'roles--intheprocess.
Theseinterviewswereusedtodevelopacompositedescriptionoftheroleofeachcharacterintheprocessingofatrafficaccident,frominceptiontoadjudication.
PoliceTheChattanooga,TennesseePoliceDepartmenthasaTrafficDivisiondevotedtotheinvestigationofallaccidentsinsidethecitylimits.
Whenfullystaffed,theunitconsistsof10investigators,twosergeants,andalieutenant.
TheTrafficDivisioncouldbeviewedasa"steppingstone"forinvestigatorsto25getintowhatisperceivedasthemoreprestigiousinvestigativeunits,suchashomicide,robbery.
andvice.
Thisresultsinhighturnoverratesfortheinvestigators.
Threeoftheinvestigatorsandoneofthesergeantsagreedtoparticipateinthestudy.
TheysharedacommonbackgroundinthatnoneofthemhadworkedanywhereotherthanChattanoogaasaninvestigator,orotherwise.
ThetrafficofficershadbeenwiththeChattanoogaPoliceDepartmentbetween6and16years.
Otherthanthesergeant-–whohadtwoyearsasaninvestigatorinanotherdivision--alloftheinvestigatorshadearnedtheiryearsofexperienceasinvestigatorsintheTrafficDivision.
Theirexperiencerangedfromsixmonthsto10years.
However,whenthesergeant'sexperienceof10yearswasexcluded,theexperiencelevelwassixmonthstotwoyears.
Thisalsohelpsdemonstratetherateofturnover.
Theofficerswereaskedabouttheirspecificon-the-jobexperiencesfortheyear2000,suchasthenumberofcasesworkedandwhatkindofcases.
Theyear2000wasselectedbecauseitwasthemostrecentyearofavailableinformation;moreover,Chattanoogahadnumerousconstructionprojectsbeingcompletedin2000,anditwasayearwhich,inthebeginning,wasontargettobreak1989'srecordforthenumberofaccidentsinvolvingfatalitiesforoneyear:38suchaccidents("CPD-TrafficDivision:TrafficFatalitiesByYear",April15,2001).
Bytheendoftheyear,therewere36fatalitiesand12werealcoholordrugrelated("ThePoliceInformationOffice-StatisticalInformation,Initiatives,andAnnualReport:2000Chief'sAnnualReportToTheCityCouncil",June30,2001).
Theinvestigatorwhohadonlybeenwiththedivisionforsixmonthswasunabletoanswerthequestionsregardingtheaccidentsintheyear2000.
Thesergeantworked15casesthatyearallofwhichinvolvedaseriousinjuryorfatalityandfivewereinaconstructionzone.
Theothertwoinvestigators26averagedover70casesin2000,withanaverageof10ormoreinvolvingseriousinjuryorfatality.
However,theyeachonlyworkedoneaccidentinaconstructionzonethatinvolvedaseriousinjuryorfatality.
Whenaskedtodescribewhatsomeoftheirmostsatisfyingaspectsoftheirjobwere,theofficersresponseswerevariedbuttiedtoseveralcentralthemes.
Oneofthemostimportantaspectsfortheofficerswastheiropportunitytoassistthevictimsofthemotor-vehiclecrash.
Thiswasafindingthatwasexpectedbecausemostliteraturedescribespoliceworkasahelpingprofession.
Theofficersalsoenjoyedgettingtoworktogetherasateam,andsolvinginvestigationswiththearrestofviolators.
Anunexpectedfindingwasthatoneoftheofficersenjoyedtrafficenforcementbecauseenforcementhelpsincreaseoverallsafetyformotorists.
Asstatedearlierintheexaminationoftheliterature,trafficenforcementisoneoftheleastlikedpartsofthejobs.
However,itispartoftheroleofthetrafficofficer.
Thelast,butcertainlynotleastpositiveaspect,wasthereliefofmakingithomeatnighttotheirfamilies.
Policingisahighlystressfulcareer.
Therealityisthateachdaythattheygotoworkcouldbetheirlast.
Whenaskedabouttheirstressors,theofficersseemtounknowinglyhavetwocategoriesofsourcesofstress:thosedirectlyrelatedtothesceneandothersourcesthathavemoretodowiththeirenvironment.
ThisfindingiteratesFinn's(1997)findingsconcerningofficers'stressandorganizationalpressures.
Havingtotalktothenextofkinwastheoverwhelmingchoiceforthemoststressfulpartofanofficer'sjob.
Thiswasanotherfindingthatwasexpected.
Theofficersalsofeltagreatdealofstresswhenhandlingaccidentsthatinvolvedthedeathofasmallchildorinfantbecausethechildwasnotproperlyrestrained.
Sinceaccidentscanoccuratanytimeofthedayornight,thelong27hoursandhavingtobecalledoutinthemiddleofthenightisalsoasourceofstressfortrafficinvestigators.
Theinvestigatorsalsohavetodealwiththestressoftryingtogetinformationfromthepeopleinvolvedintheaccidentinordertoprocessthescene.
AccordingtoBadger(1994),thissituationcreatesthefeelingofhelplessnessfortheofficerbecausehe/sheistryingtohelp,buthe/shecan'tifhe/shedoesn'tgetanswersfromthepeopleheistryingtointerview.
TwoenvironmentalsourcescreatestressfortheTrafficDivision,thePoliceAdministrationandtheCourtsystem.
TheAdministrationcreatesstressbyinducingbudgetcutsandnotsupplyingsufficientpersonneltohandletheworkload.
Parenthetically,Finn's(1997)articlediscussesseveralchangesmanagementcouldimplementtodecreasethispressure.
Budgetcutscreateanenvironmentwhereanofficermustcontinuouslyproducemoreresultsinlesstimewithfewerresourcestodoso.
Ifthatweren'tenough,theofficersthenmustdealwiththecourtsystem.
Theydescribethecourtsystemasasystemthattheyfeelistoolenientandalienatesthembylayingblameontheofficersifthecaseisnotsufficientfortheprosecutortoquicklyadjudicateit.
Asanofficerhurriestoanaccidentscene,manythoughtswillgothroughhis/hermindashe/sheapproaches.
Somethingshelpthemprepareforthatarrival,includingtheknowledgethattheyconstantlygothroughtrainingtosharpentheirabilitiesfortheinvestigation.
Oneofficerstatedthatprayingbeforegettingtothescenehelpscalmhisnerves.
Mostimportantisthesecurityofknowingthateverypolicevehicle-whetherit'samotorcycle,acar,orasportsutilityvehicle-isfullyequippedwiththeequipmentneededtoconductanaccidentinvestigation.
Thiskitincludeseverythingfrommeasuringdevicessuchasrulers,rola-tape,andlaserstocomputersandphotographyequipment.
28Afterarrivingonthescene,theinvestigatorhasseveralthingsthatmustbecompletedinordertoprocessthesceneandpreservetheevidence.
Firstandforemost,theofficermustdeterminewhatisthesceneandsecureitsothatthepossibilityofcontaminationcanbeeliminatedoratleastsignificantlyreduced.
Theinvestigatorthensetsaboutthetaskofprocessingthescene.
Photographsmustbetakenthroughouttheentireprocesstogiveanaccurateportrayalofthesceneandevidencelocations.
Allpiecesofevidenceshouldbeproperlybagged,marked,andrecorded.
Documentationshouldbecompleted.
Thiswouldincludemeasurementsofdistances,directionsoftravel,skidortiremarks,andoverallscenemeasurements.
Interviewsofvictims,witnesses,andoffendersshouldbeconducted.
Ifadriverissuspectedofbeingundertheinfluenceofdrugsoralcohol,additionalstepsmustbetaken.
Aninvestigatorwillneedtoconductfieldsobrietytests,conductorarrangebreathandbloodtests,ensurethesafety,andarresttheoffenders.
Technologyhasmadetrafficinvestigationeasiertocomplete,accordingtotheofficers.
Aftertheon-sceneinvestigationiscompleted,theofficersstillhavemuchmoretodo.
Theycompletefollow-upinterviews,writereports,andcompletescaledrawingsofthescenes.
Thisinformationisneededfortheirappearanceincourt.
Beforetheircourtdate,officerswillgatherandreviewthephotos,witnesstapes,writtenstatements,initialnotesanddiagrams,finalreportsanddiagrams,andscaledrawingstorefreshtheirmemoriesaboutthecase.
Thisinformationmustalsogotocourtwiththem.
Theofficersvariedgreatlyintheirresponsesconcerningplea-bargainingfornon-fataltrafficaccidents.
Therewasaninverserelationshipbetweenthenumbersofyearsinthetrafficdivisionandagreementwiththispractice.
ThisisdemonstratedinFigure4-1.
Thesergeantwhohad10yearsofexperiencewiththetraffic29divisionstronglydisagreedwithpleabargaining;however,theinvestigatorwithonlysixmonthsexperiencestronglyagreedwithpleabargainingfornon-fataltrafficaccidents.
Itwouldbeinterestingtoseeifthesecondinvestigator'sviewschangedwithincreasedexperience.
AttorneysProsecutorTheChattanooga/HamiltonCountyDistrictAttorney'sofficehas20attorneys,includingaDUI/Trafficdivision.
Alloftheattorneyshavehadsomeexperiencewithtrafficrelatedcasesatsomepointintheircareers;however,thereisonlyoneattorneywhohandlestheDUI/trafficcases.
HehasbeenwiththeChattanooga/HamiltonCountyDistrictAttorney'sofficefortwoyears.
HehasneverbeenwithanotherDistrictAttorney'soffice;however,hehasbeenanattorneyfor18years.
Formerly,hewasanattorneyinAthens,Tennessee.
ComparedtoChattanooga,hedescribedAthensasbeingasmallercommunitywherethecourtswerelesscrowded.
Intheyear2000,theDistrictAttorney'sofficehandled1,500traffic-relatedcases.
Twohundredofthoseinvolvedseriousinjuryorfatalities,and15ofthoseoccurredinaconstructionzone.
Theprosecutorhastwomainsourcesofstress.
Theobviousoneistheenormouscaseloadforoneperson,andthedesperateneedformoreprosecutorsintheofficetoassistinthisamountofwork.
TheotherstressoristheLegislatureandtheirinabilityorlackofinterestinincreasingthepenaltiesfordangerousoffenders.
Forexample,vehicularhomicideisnotpunishedasaviolentcrime.
InthewordsoftheAssistantDistrictAttorney,"Thepenaltiesstink!
Thelegislaturehasnocluewhatwehavetodealwith.
"30Noteverythingaboutthejobofprosecutorisnegative.
Therearesatisfyingaspectstothejob,includingtheopportunitytoremovedangerousdriversfromtheroadways.
Also,theopportunitytobeapartofthetrialsisenjoyable.
Furthermore,goodco-workersmakethejobmorepleasant.
Whenthepolicearrestsomeoneforatrafficrelatedincident,theDistrictAttorney'sofficebecomesinvolved.
However,notallinstancesofchargesarebroughttothecourt.
Theprosecutormustdecidewhichcaseshewillpursue.
Therearethreemainfactorsthatinfluencetheprosecutorinhisdecisiontoprosecuteaseriousinjury/fatalitycase.
Thefirstfactorishowthevictimfeelsandwhathis/herneedsmaybe.
Thiswouldalsoincludethevictim'sfamilyifthevictimhaddied.
Thereisalsoacommunityneedforpunishmentofviolators,notonlyasanexamplebutalsofororder.
Finally,theprosecutorstrivesforconsistentprosecutorialdecisionmakingforeachtypeofcrime.
Aftertheprosecutordeterminesthecasewillgoforward,hemustprepareforcourt.
Topreparehewilltrytogotothesceneifpossible.
Theprosecutorwilldiscussthecasewiththeofficersandreviewthefile.
Hewillreviewlawforprecedentsandpropercharges.
Thenhelaysouthisplanforthetrial,includinghiswitnesses.
Thepolicewillprovidemuchofhisfactualrecollectionofthescene,althoughtheprosecutorcanuseadditionalexpertssuchastoxicologists,reconstructionists,andpassengerplacementengineers.
Someoftheseexpertswillusetrafficanimationsoftwareforcourtpresentations;however,currentlyinTennesseecourts,itisnotaccepted.
Expertsdonotcomewithoutacost,however.
Prosecutingaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcaseaverages10,000dollarswithoutexperts,25,000dollarswithexperttestimony.
DUIcasesrequiretheadditionalstepsofprovingDUIactivity,ensuringbifurcationattrialprep--becausejurorsare31notallowedtoknowpreviousviolations,anddealingwiththevictim'sandcommunityanger.
Plea-bargainingisatoolavailabletotheprosecutortoexpeditecasesthroughadjudicationandtosecureaconvictionviaalessercharge.
TheAssistantDistrictAttorneystronglyagreesthatplea-bargainingisausefultoolindealingwithnon-fataltrafficaccidents(seeFigure4-2).
Hethinkstheonlythingthatdeterminesaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcasetobegoodforplea-bargainingisifthedefenseisseekingtopleabargain.
However,hefeelstherearesomespecificscenarioswhereplea-bargainingwouldnotbeacceptable.
Oneexampleisifthecommunityneedstohaveatrialtochangedangerouspatternsofbehavior.
Theprosecutorwouldalsofeelpressurednottopleabargainifthevictim'sfamilyinsistedonatrial.
Finally,hewouldrefuseapleaforadefendantwhowasnotwillingtoacceptappropriatepunishmentforthecrime.
Thiswasasomewhatsurprisingfinding.
Thedistrictattorneywaswillingtostandupforprinciplesofgeneraldecencyandnotfocussomuchonthenumberof"wins"accumulated.
Eventhoughthepoliceprovidetheprosecutorwithalargeamountoftheirinformationfortrial,hedoeshavesomeproblemswithhowthepolicehandletraffic-relatedcasesinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities.
Theprosecutordoesn'tfeelthatthepolicegivehimnoticeataprompttime.
Furthermore,hehasaproblemwithschedulingthemforwitnesses.
Healsodoesn'tfeeltheydealwithmentalhealthissueswell.
Withthepoliceprovidingthesubstantialportionofadistrictattorney'scase,itwassurprisingtofindatumultuousrelationshipbetweenthedistrictattorney'sofficeandthepolicedepartment.
32PublicDefenderTheChattanooga/HamiltonCountyPublicDefender'sofficeconsistsof15to20attorneysand5to10auxiliarystaff,whohandleinvestigationsandsentencing.
MuchliketheDistrictAttorney'soffice,thePublicDefender'sofficehasalimitednumberofstaffhandlingtraffic-relatedcases.
OnlyoneoftheAssistantPublicDefenderswouldconsenttoparticipatinginthestudy.
ShehasbeenwiththeChattanooga/HamiltonCountyPublicDefender'sofficefor12years.
Shehasbeenanattorneyfor15years,butshehasnotworkedanywhereotherthanthePublicDefender'soffice.
Intheyear2000,shehandledapproximately30traffic-relatedcases.
Threeinvolvedseriousinjuriesorfatalities.
Noneoftheseriousinjury/fatalityoccurredinaconstructionzone.
Muchlikethepolice,thePublicDefenderenjoyedhelpingthoseinvolvedintrafficaccidents.
Thiswasanexpectedfindingbecauseitwouldbedifficulttocitemoneyasaprevailingfactorinhercareerchoice,beingapublicservant.
Twoofhermostsatisfyingaspectsofthejobinvolvedassistingthedefendant,whofeelsoverwhelmedbytheresourcesofthestate,andprotectingthedefendant'srights.
ThisalsogivesthePublicDefendertheopportunitytopersonalizethedefendantandhis/herexperience.
AnothersatisfactionisthePublicDefender'schancetoputthestatetothetestofburdenofproof.
Shestated,"Thereisalwaysanothersidetothestory,andIenjoygettingtodemonstratethatincourt.
"Thethingsthataresatisfyingarealsotheverythingsthatcausethejobtobestressful.
ThePublicDefenderisoftendealingwithindividualswhocan'taffordtohaveaspouseorfamilymembergotojail.
Thishastobecontrastedwiththefeelingsofthevictim'sfamilywhowantthedefendanttogotojail.
Anotherchallengeisthenon-educatedclient,whocompletelydependsonthe33PublicDefenderforallhis/herdecision-making.
ThereisalsothestarkrealitythatthePublicDefenderisinapositionofbeingtheonlythingbetweenherclientandprison.
Whenpreparingacase,aPublicDefendergoesthroughmuchthesameprocessastheDistrictAttorney,butfromtheoppositepoint-of-view.
Twoofhermainresourcesforinformationforseriousinjury/fatalitycasesaretheNationalHighwaySafetyBoardandthetextbookbyR.
W.
Rivers(1980),TrafficAccidentInvestigation.
ThePublicDefendersometimesusesaccidentreconstructionistexpertstoexamineandpresentinformationincourt.
IfaclientischargedwithDUI,itisveryimportantthatadditionalinformationisobtained.
First,aPublicDefendershouldmakesurethatalcoholwastheproximatecauseoftheaccidentandnotanotherpossibility.
Shewillalsocloselyexamthebloodandbreathtests.
Furthermore,interviewswillneedtobeconductedwithwitnesseswholastobservedthedriverbeforetheaccident.
ThePublicDefenderisanimportantpartoftheplea-bargainingprocess.
Sheagreesthatplea-bargainingisausefultoolindealingwithnon-fataltrafficaccidents(seeFigure4-2).
TheDistrictAttorneyandthePublicDefenderworktogetherinplea-bargaining.
Thiswasdiscussedearlierintheliteraturereviewconcerningthestudies,byHeumann,Baker,andBlumberg(SeeChapter2).
ThePublicDefenderwouldacceptapleabargainunderthreeconditions.
Thefirstconditionwouldbeawillingdefendantwhoacceptsresponsibilityforhis/heractandhasapreviousrecord.
Theothertwofactorsarethewillingnessofthevictim'sfamilyandsomeconcernonthepartoftheDistrictAttorneythatajurywouldfindthatitwasjustanaccident,i.
e.
noalcoholwaspresent.
ThePublicDefenderwouldnotacceptapleabargainforthreespecificscenarios.
Thefirstscenariowouldbeforanon-alcoholvehicularhomicide.
Anotherexamplewouldbeadefendantwhohas34committedavehicularassaultandwasrecklessorcriminallynegligentbutthinksitwasjustanaccident.
Shealsowouldrefusetoacceptapleaforacasethatinvolvesjailtimeforadefendantwhohasneverbeenintroublebefore.
ThePublicDefenderdoesn'tdependonthepoliceforassistanceinhercases.
Shefindsthepoliceprovideverylittleresourcestoher.
AccordingtothePublicDefender,thepolicedon'tbothertogetwitnessnamesunlesstheyhelpthestate.
Furthermore,theydon'tseemtobeknowledgeableorexperiencedenoughtodoanadequateinvestigation.
PrivateDefenseAttorneysLikethePublicDefender'soffice,defenseattorneyshavethejoboftakingonthestateandtheirburdenofproof.
However,privateattorneyshavetoalsoworryaboutthe"bottomline.
"ThereareseveralfirmsintheChattanoogaareathatspecializeintraffic-relatedcases.
Theresearcherselectedafull-servicefirmthathandlesavarietyofcasesatseveraldifferentlevelsofthecourtsystem.
Togetherthetwoattorneyshavealmost50yearsofexperience.
BothhavebeenworkinginChattanoogaforthelast20yearsasprivateattorneys.
OneoftheattorneysspenthisfirstyearworkinginMemphisasaprivateattorney.
TheonlydifferencehenoticedbetweenMemphisandChattanoogawasthepopulationsize.
Memphishasapopulationof650,100comparedtoChattanooga'spopulationof153,000("MetroProfile",February17,2002).
Intheyear2000,theyhandled26traffic-relatedcases,withoverhalfbeingcivilcases.
Fivecasesinvolvedseriousinjuriesorfatalities,noneofwhichwereinaconstructionzone.
Oneoftheattorneyshandledsevenoreightseriousinjury/fatalityDUIcases.
Bothprefertohandlecriminalcases,eventhoughcivilcasespaymuchmore.
Oneoftheattorneysparticularlyenjoys35handlingcasesintheFederalCourtsystembecauseitismuchbetterorganizedandstructured.
Asprivateattorneys,theyhavethesatisfactionofbeingtheirownbossesandhavingalittlefreedomintheirdailyschedulestoallowforfamilytime.
Theotheradvantageisthefinancialfreedomtoenjoyexpensivehobbiesandprovidefortheirfamily.
Oneattorneyenjoyshelpingpeopleandbeingallowedtheopportunitytorepresenttheunderdog.
Justasbeingtheirownbossesprovidesfreedom,italsoprovidesthestressofhavingtoworryabouttheoverheadcosts.
Theresearcherexpectedthistobeasourceofstress.
Sometimesthiscanleadtotheneedtohaveahighvolumeofcases,whichinturncreatesmoredeadlinesandpaperwork.
Thesefactorscausestressforprivateattorneys.
Whenpreparingforacriminalcaseinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities,theprivateattorneyhasmanystepstocomplete.
First,he/sheinterviewshisclient.
Also,theprivateattorneyobtainsdiscoveryfromtheDistrictAttorney.
Allmedicalrecordsorautopsyreportsmustbegathered.
Theattorneywillneedtoconferwiththepoliceofficers,witnesses,andmedicalexaminers.
It'salsoveryimportantthathe/sheinspectandphotographthescene.
Ifitisappropriate,anaccidentreconstructionistwillbeobtained.
Whendrugsoralcoholareinquestion,anattorneywillneedtoobtainDUItestresultsandpossiblyhireamedicaldoctortodisputeborderlinecases.
Finalpreparationswillincludemakingquestionsforthewitnesses,aswellaspreparingjuryinstructionsandmotions.
LiketheDistrictAttorneyandPublicDefender,oneoftheattorneysprefersajurytrial.
Thisallowsthechancetoplayontheemotionsofjurors.
Theotherattorneyfeelsthatitdependsuponyourcasefactsastowhichwouldbemorebeneficialtoyourclient.
36Again,plea-bargainingcanbehelpfultotheprivateattorneyasitistothePublicDefenderandDistrictAttorney.
Theprivateattorneyfindsthatacasecanbeagoodcandidateforplea-bargainingforseveralreasons.
Onereasonthatbothagreeonisifthebloodtestareborderlineoradmissible.
Anothertimewouldbeifthedeceasedcontributedtothecollisioninsomeway.
Apleabargainmightalsobeplausibledependingonthestrengthofthestate'scase.
Iftheclientdoesn'thaveanypriorcriminalhistory,his/hercasemightbegoodforaplea.
Bothstronglyagreethatapleabargainisausefultoolfornon-fataltrafficaccidents(seeFigure4-2).
Apleabargainisn'talwaysthebestconclusionforacase.
Sometimesapleabargainshouldn'tbeacceptedsuchaswhenaclientclaimsinnocenceandthereisn'tanyproofofacrime.
Ifthedeceasedcontributedtotheaccidentbydrivinginarecklessmannerorwasengagedin"roadrage",thenapleashouldnotbeaccepted.
Asdiscussedearlierintheliteraturereview,"roadrage"isbecomingamoreprevalentproblemonthehighways.
Apleabargainalsowouldn'tbeacceptedifitwasbelievedtobepossibletogetbetterresultsfromajurytrial.
Privateattorneysfoundthepolicetobenotatallhelpfulorofverylittlehelptothedevelopmentoftheircase.
Theattorneyshadproblemswiththepolicehavingatendencytoexaggeratetheevidencetosupporttheconclusionofguilt.
Thiscouldincludefailingtoreportdetailsofwhatpeoplesayhappenedtojustnotusingcommonsense.
Allofthedefenseattorneyshadanegativeviewofthepolice'shelpfulnessintheircasedevelopmentasdemonstratedinFigure4-3.
37SummaryThischapterhasdiscussedthefindingsoftheinterviewsurveysconducted.
Responseswereexaminedtodeveloptheprofileofeachofthemainactorsinthetrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudicationprocess.
Thenextchapterwillsummarizetheconclusionsofthisresearchanddiscussimplicationsforfutureresearch.
38N=4StronglyAgree(5)Agree(4)Neutral(3)Disagree(2)StronglyDisagree(1)024681012YearsofExperienceFigure4-1:PoliceViewoftheUseofPleaBargainingForNon-FatalAccidents.
39n=4StronglyAgree(5)Agree(4)Neutral(3)Disagree(2)StronglyDisagree(1)0510152025YearsofExperienceFigure4-2:AttorneysViewoftheUseofPleaBargainingForNon-FatalAccidents.
40n=3ExtremelyHelpful(5)VeryHelpful(4)SomewhatHelpful(3)VeryLittleHelp(2)NotAtAllHelpful(1)01234NumberofResponsesFigure4-3:DefenseAttorneysViewofHelpfulnessofPolice.
41CHAPTER5CONCLUSIONANDIMPLICATIONSThisstudyfocusedontheroleofthepolice,prosecutor,publicdefender,andprivatedefenseattorneysintheprocessoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandadjudication.
Theresearcherexaminedeachoftherolesofthemaincharacterstodevelopaprofileofeachactorandtofacilitatetheresearcher'sunderstandingoftheirroleintheprocessofaccidentinvestigationandadjudicationaswellastheactor'sperceptionsoftheirrole.
Byconductingaqualitativeexamination,theresearcherwasgiventheopportunitytolearnthepoint-of-viewofthepeoplewhoaredirectlyinvolvedintheprocessoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandlitigation.
Thisallowedtheresearchertodevelopabetterunderstandingoftheprocessandtheimportanceofeachcharacterinthefinaladjudicationofacase.
Thischapterwillfirstsummarizetheroleofthemajoractorsinthetrafficaccidentinvestigationprocess.
Thenthechapterwillclosewithadiscussionoftheimplicationsforfutureresearch.
PoliceThepolicearethefirstofthecriminaljusticesystem'sactorstointeractintheprocessoftrafficaccidentadjudication.
Theyservethepurposeofinformation-gatherersandanalyzers.
Theresearcherbelievedthiswouldbetheirmostimportantrole.
Itisthepoliceinvestigator'sresponsibilitytoaccuratelyprocessthesceneofanaccidentforevidenceandinformation.
Theofficermustthenanalyzethisinformationandevidencetomakeadecisionasto42itsmeaning.
Corsianos(2001)pointsouttheimportanceoftheofficertoobjectivelyconducthisinvestigationandavoidsubjectivityenteringintotheresults.
Becausethepolicearethefirstline,itisveryimportantthattheyhavethemostup-to-datetechnologyandinformationforthisprocessing.
Continuoustrainingisnecessarytoensurethattheyareabletodealwiththetechnology.
ThepoliceprovidetheinformationandevidencetheyhavegatheredandanalyzedtotheDistrictAttorneyforthecasetomovetothenextstep.
ItisveryimportantthatthepolicedevelopagoodworkingrelationshipwiththeDistrictAttorneytoallowfreeandopendiscussionaboutcases.
Thiswouldenablebetterprosecutionofcasesandallowthepolicetofeelthattheyaren'twastingtheirtimeinvestigating,onlyfortheoffendertobereleasedorgivenalenientsentence.
ThiswasfoundtobeanimportantstressortotheofficersandisdemonstratedinFigure4-1.
AttorneysProsecutorTheDistrictAttorneyisthenextlevelintheprocessofthecaseadjudication.
His/Herroleistoactasthedecision-makeranddisseminator.
TheDistrictAttorneydeterminesifthereisacrimeandifthereisenoughevidencetoprosecutethatcrime.
Asdiscussedintheliteraturereview,thiscancreateagreatdealofstressforthedistrictattorney,particularlywhenitdealswiththedeathpenaltyoption.
Ifthereisevidenceofacrime,thentheDistrictAttorneyreleasestheinformationhe/shehasthroughdiscoverytothedefendant'sattorney.
TheDistrictAttorneyalso43hasthedecisionofpleabargainingastherepresentativeofthestate.
TheDistrictAttorneyhasaparadoxicalrole,inthathe/shehastobeabletoworkwellwiththepoliceaswellasthedefendant'sattorney,whetheritbethePublicDefenderoraprivatedefenseattorney.
ADistrictAttorney'scasedependsontheinformationthathe/sheacquiresfromthepolice;therefore,he/shemustberespectfulofhis/herpositionasinformation-gatherersandanalyzers.
However,he/shemustalsoworkwiththePublicDefenderorprivateattorneytoquicklyadjudicatethecaseinthebestpossibleinterestofthestatewithconsiderationsforthedefendant,makinghim/heranegotiatoraswell.
ItwassurprisingtoseethattheDistrictAttorneywasalso,inaway,adefender.
It'shis/herjobtodefendthestateagainstcrimesagainstitscitizens.
PublicDefenderandPrivateDefenseAttorneysThePublicDefenderandprivatedefenseattorneysserveasthenegotiatorsand,aptly,defendersinthefinalstepofadjudication.
Itistheresponsibilityofdefenseattorneys,betheypublicorprivate,tonegotiatethebestdealfortheirclientwhileprotectingtheirConstitutionalandcivilrights.
Defenseattorneysmust;therefore,haveanopenrelationshipwiththeDistrictAttorney'sofficetobettertheirnegotiatingpowers,whilebeingcognizantoftheDistrictAttorney'sresponsibilityasanagentofthestatewhomustfulfillthestate'spunishmentpowers.
Whenallofthecharacterscompletetheirresponsibilities,thereshouldbeopendiscussionthroughouttheprocess.
However,whenonerelationshipisn'tworkingasitshould,thatinturnchangestherestoftherelationships.
Thisendsintheslowingdownofcaseadjudicationandcreatingfrustrationforeach44character.
Thelackofcommunicationisevidentinthisstudy.
Insteadofthepoliceandprosecutorbeingonthesameteam,ortheexampleofthecourtteam,Chattanooga'sprocessishaphazardorfragmented.
Eachactorseemsfocusedonlyonhis/herownroleandfailstoseetheothersasimportantcharacters,orevenparticipatingcharacters.
Thisleaveseachactorwithunduestressandanoverloadinwork.
ImplicationsFuturestudiesarestillneededtoprovideabetterunderstandingoftrafficaccidents.
Evenstudiestodayshowalackofsupportiveliteraturetodrawconclusions(Davis,2002).
Ifresearcherswereplanningtoconductfuturestudiessuchasthis,itwouldbeadvisabletoworkinacityortownwherepreviousconnectionsandrelationswereestablishedbeforeundertakingthetask.
Suchrelationswouldbehelpfulingainingthenecessarycooperationtohaveanadequatesamplesize.
Furthermore,researchersmightwanttofocusononeparticularactoranddoamorein-depthinvestigation.
Agoodexamplewouldbeifoneweretofocusonthepolice,thenride-a-longobservationwouldbeadvisable.
Casestudiescouldalsobeaviableoptiontostudytrafficaccidents.
ArecenttrafficaccidentinNorthernGeorgiathatkilledfourpeople,injured39,andinvolved120vehicleswasaremindertothepeopleintheChattanooga,Tennesseeareaofapreviousincidentthatisnowcaselaw(Cook&Martin,2002).
Becauseoffogin1990wherea99vehiclecollisionoccurredonInterstate75nearCalhoun,Tennesseecausedthedeathof12,therearenowfogwarninglights,gates,andweatherstationstopreventanothersuchincidentinthatarea(Clayton&Higgins,2002).
These45preventativemeasuresaretheresultoflawsthathavebeenconceivedbasedonknowledgediscoveredbytheinvestigationandadjudicationofatrafficaccident.
Thisdemonstratestheimportanceoffutureresearchonthistopic.
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55APPENDIXBInformedConsentForm56ThisInformedConsentwillexplainaboutbeingaresearchsubjectinafieldstudy.
Itisimportantthatyoureadthismaterialcarefullyandthendecideifyouwishtobeavolunteer.
Thepurposesofthisresearchstudyareasfollows:1)toassisttheresearcherindevelopingabetterunderstandingoftheroleofeachpartyintrafficaccidentinvestigationandlitigation,2)willprovideanindepthviewofthedutiesofthoseinvolvedintheprocessoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandlitigation,andfinally3)toincreasetheknowledgeandliteratureconcerningthetopicoftrafficaccidentinvestigationandlitigation.
Completionofeachinterviewisexpectedtolastbetweenoneandtwohours,dependingonthesubjectsexperiencelevelwithtrafficaccidentinvestigationorlitigation.
Theprincipalinvestigatorwillconductinterviewswitheachofthesubjects.
Thesurveyconsistsofmostlyopen-endedquestions.
Thiswillgivethesubjecttheopportunitytoanswerwiththeirownwordstodescribetheirownexperiencesrelatingtotrafficaccidentinvestigationandlitigation.
Somequestionswillactuallybestatements,andthesubjectwillbeaskedtogivetheiropinionbasedontheLikertscaleof"StronglyDisagree,Disagree,Neutral,Agree,orStronglyAgree.
"Thepossiblerisksand/ordiscomfortsofyourinvolvementinclude:1)sacrificingtimetocompletetheinterview,2)willbeaskedtodisclosealimitedamountofpersonalinformation,3)willbeaskedtorecalllargeamountsofinformation,and/or4)willbeaskedtorecalldetailsaboutwhatmayhavebeentraumaticevents.
Therewillbenodirectbenefittotheparticipantsofthestudy.
Thepossiblebenefitsofyourparticipationtosocietywillbeasociety'sbetterunderstandingoftheroleeachcharacterintrafficaccidentinvestigationandlitigation,andtoprovidemoreknowledgeabouttrafficaccidents.
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,problemsorresearch-relatedmedicalproblemsatanytime,youmaycallKarenL.
Beiselat(423)510-8430,orDr.
JohnWhiteheadat(423)439-5346.
YoumaycalltheChairmanoftheInstitutionalReviewBoardat(423)439-6134foranyquestionsyoumayhaveaboutyourrightsasaresearchsubject.
Everyattemptwillbemadetoseethatmystudyresultsarekeptconfidential.
Acopyoftherecordsfromthisstudywillbestoredinalockedfiresafeinmypersonalresidenceforatleast10yearsaftertheendofthisresearch.
Theresultsofthisstudymay57bepublishedand/orpresentedatmeetingswithoutnamingmeasasubject.
Althoughyourrightsandprivacywillbemaintained,theSecretaryoftheDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,theEastTennesseeStateUniversity/V.
A.
MedicalCenterInstitutionalReviewBoard,theFoodandDrugAdministration,andtheETSUDepartmentofCriminalJustice/Criminologyhaveaccesstothestudyrecords.
Myrecordswillbekeptcompletelyconfidentialaccordingtocurrentlegalrequirements.
Theywillnotberevealedunlessrequiredbylaw,orasnotedabove.
EastTennesseeStateUniversity(ETSU)willpaythecostofemergencyfirstaidforanyinjury,whichmayhappenasaresultofyourbeinginthisstudy.
Theywillnotpayforanyothermedicaltreatment.
ClaimsagainstETSUoranyofitsagentsoremployeesmaybesubmittedtotheTennesseeClaimsCommission.
TheseclaimswillbesettledtotheextentallowableasprovidedunderTCASection9-8-307.
FormoreinformationaboutclaimscalltheChairmanoftheInstitutionalReviewBoardofETSUat(423)439-6134.
Thenaturedemands,risks,andbenefitsoftheprojecthavebeenexplainedtomeaswellasareknownandavailable.
Iunderstandwhatmyparticipationinvolves.
Furthermore,IunderstandthatIamfreetoaskquestionsandwithdrawfromtheprojectatanytime,withoutpenalty.
Ihaveread,orhavehadreadtome,andfullyunderstandtheconsentform.
Isignitfreelyandvoluntarily.
Asignedcopyhasbeengiventome.
Yourstudyrecordwillbemaintainedinstrictestconfidenceaccordingtocurrentlegalrequirementsandwillnotberevealedunlessrequiredbylaworasnotedabove.
SIGNATUREOFVOLUNTEERDATESIGNATUREOFINVESTIGATORDATE58APPENDIXCTrafficOfficerInterviewSchedule59TrafficOfficerInterviewScheduleThisstudywillfocusonaccidentsthatoccurredintheyear2000andinvolvedfatalitiesorseriousinjuries.
Forthisstudy,seriousinjurywillbedefinedasanyinjurywhichincapacitatesthevictimtothedegreeinwhichtheymustbetransportedtothehospitalforfurthertreatment,includingsurgeryorextendedhospitalization.
1.
Howlonghaveyoubeenanofficer____2.
Howlonghaveyoubeenaninvestigator____3.
Howlonghaveyoubeeninthetrafficdivision____4.
Haveyoueverbeenatrafficinvestigatoranywhereelse____5.
Ifso,wherewasthelastplacedyouworkedbeforecomingtoChattanooga6.
HowdidthatdifferfromworkinginChattanoogai.
e.
population,hierarchy,community.
7.
Howmanycasesdidyouworklastyear____8.
Howmanyinvolvedseriousinjuriesorfatalities____9.
Howmanyseriousinjury/fatalitycasesoccurredinconstructionzones____10.
Whatarethe3mostsatisfyingaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
11.
Whatarethe3moststressfulaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
12.
Howdoyouprepareforarrivalonthesceneofanaccidentwithseriousinjuries/fatalities13.
Whatarethe3mostimportantstepsyoutaketocompleteaninvestigationinvolvingaseriousinjury/fatalityBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
14.
Areseriousinjury/fatalityDUIaccidentshandleddifferentlythanotherseriousinjury/fatalityaccidents____15.
Explain3additionalstepsyoutakewithDUIcases.
1.
2.
3.
6016.
Whatequipment,ifany,doyouusewhenconductingatrafficinvestigation17.
Technologyhasmadetrafficinvestigationeasiertocomplete.
StronglyDisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStronglyAgree1234518.
Whatarethe3mostimportantstepsyoutaketopreserveevidenceinaccidentsinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalitiesBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
19.
Howdoyouprepareforcourt20.
a.
Doyouusetrafficanimationsoftwareforcourtpresentations____b.
Whatbrandofsoftwarec.
Doyouuseconsultants21.
Pleabargainingisausefultoolfordealingwithnon-fataltrafficaccidents.
StronglyDisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStronglyAgree1234561APPENDIXDProsecutorInterviewSchedule62ProsecutorInterviewScheduleThisstudywillfocusonaccidentsthatoccurredintheyear2000andinvolvedfatalitiesorseriousinjuries.
Forthisstudy,seriousinjurywillbedefinedasanyinjurywhichincapacitatesthevictimtothedegreeinwhichtheymustbetransportedtothehospitalforfurthertreatment,includingsurgeryorextendedhospitalization.
1.
Howlonghaveyoubeenanattorney____2.
HowlonghaveyoubeenwiththeDistrictAttorney'soffice____3.
HaveyoueverbeenwithanotherDistrictAttorney'soffice____4.
Ifso,wherewasthelastplaceyouworkedbeforecomingtoChattanooga5.
HowdidthatdifferfromworkinginChattanoogai.
e.
population,community6.
Howmanytrafficcasesdidyouworklastyear7.
Howmanyinvolvedseriousinjuryorfatalities____8.
Howmanyseriousinjury/fatalitycasesoccurredinconstructionzones____9.
Whatarethe3mostsatisfyingaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
10.
Whatarethe3moststressfulaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
11.
Whatarethe3mainfactorsthatinfluenceyourdecisiontoprosecuteaseriousinjury/fatalitycase1.
2.
3.
12.
Whatstepsdoyoutaketoprepareforacourtcaseinvolvingaseriousinjury/fatality13.
Doyouuseexpertsasidefromthepoliceofficersfortestimony____14.
Ifso,whatkindofexperts15.
a.
Doyouusetrafficanimationsoftwareforcourtpresentations____b.
Whatbrandofsoftwarec.
Doyouuseconsultants6316.
Arejudgesandjuriesreceptivetotrafficanimationsoftware____17.
DoyoupreferajuryorabenchtrialWhy18.
Whatistheaveragecostofprosecutingaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcase____19.
Areseriousinjury/fatalityDUIaccidentshandleddifferentlythanotherseriousinjury/fatalityaccidents____20.
Explain3additionalstepsyoumusttakewithseriousinjury/fatalityDUIcases.
1.
2.
3.
21.
What3mainfactorsdoyouthinkdetermineaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcasetobegoodforpleabargainingBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
22.
Pleabargainingisausefultoolfordealingwithnon-fatalaccidents.
StronglyDisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStronglyAgree1234523.
Give3specificscenarioswhenyouwouldnotofferapleabargaininacaseinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities.
1.
2.
3.
24.
Whatare3problemsyouhavewithhowpolicehandletraffic-relatedcasesinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities1.
2.
3.
64APPENDIXEPublicDefenderInterviewSchedule65PublicDefenderInterviewScheduleThisstudywillfocusonaccidentsthatoccurredintheyear2000andinvolvedfatalitiesorseriousinjuries.
Forthisstudy,seriousinjurywillbedefinedasanyinjurywhichincapacitatesthevictimtothedegreeinwhichtheymustbetransportedtothehospitalforfurthertreatment,includingsurgeryorextendedhospitalization.
1.
Howlonghaveyoubeenanattorney____2.
HowlonghaveyoubeenwiththePublicDefender'soffice____3.
HaveyoueverbeenwithanotherPublicDefender'soffice____4.
Ifso,wherewasthelastplaceyouworkedbeforecomingtoChattanooga5.
HowdidthatdifferfromworkingChattanoogai.
e.
population,community6.
Howmanytrafficcasesdidyouworklastyear____7.
Howmanyinvolvedseriousinjuryorfatalities____8.
Howmanyseriousinjury/fatalitycasesoccurredinconstructionzones____9.
Whatarethe3mostsatisfyingaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
10.
Whatarethe3moststressfulaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
11.
Whatstepsdoyoutakeinpreparingaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcaseforcourt12.
Whatareyour3mainresourcesforpreparingaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcase1.
2.
3.
13.
Doyouuseexpertwitnesses____14.
Ifso,whatkindofexpertwitnesses15.
Doyouuseprivateinvestigators,ordoyouhaveyourown16.
Doinsuranceinvestigatorsplayapartinyourcases____17.
DoyoupreferajuryorabenchtrialWhy6618.
Whatistheaveragecostofdefendingaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcase_____19.
Areseriousinjury/fatalityDUIaccidentshandleddifferentlythanotherseriousinjury/fatalityaccidents____20.
Explain3additionalstepsyoumusttakewithseriousinjury/fatalityDUIcases.
1.
2.
3.
21.
a.
Doyouusetrafficanimationsoftwareforcourtpresentations_____b.
Whatbrandofsoftwarec.
Doyouuseconsultants22.
Arejudgesandjuriesreceptivetotrafficanimationsoftware_____23.
What3mainfactorsdoyouthinkdetermineaseriousinjury/fatalitycasetobegoodforpleabargainingBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
24.
Pleabargainingisausefultoolfordealingwithnon-fataltrafficaccidents.
StronglyDisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStronglyAgree1234525.
Give3specificscenarioswhenyouwouldnotacceptapleabargaininacaseinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities1.
2.
3.
26.
HowresourcefularethepoliceinyourcaseNotAtAllVeryLittleSomewhatVeryHelpfulExtremelyHelpful1234527.
Whatare3problemsyouhavewithhowpolicehandletraffic-relatedcasesinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities1.
2.
3.
67APPENDIXFDefenseAttorneyInterviewSchedule68DefenseAttorneyInterviewScheduleThisstudywillfocusonaccidentsthatoccurredintheyear2000andinvolvedfatalitiesorseriousinjuries.
Forthisstudy,seriousinjurywillbedefinedasanyinjurywhichincapacitatesthevictimtothedegreeinwhichtheymustbetransportedtothehospitalforfurthertreatment,includingsurgeryorextendedhospitalization.
1.
Howlonghaveyoubeenanattorney____2.
HowlonghaveyoubeenanattorneyinChattanooga______3.
Wherewasthelastplaceyouwereanattorney4.
HowdidthatdifferfromworkingChattanoogai.
e.
population,community5.
Howmanytrafficaccidentcasesdidyouhandlelastyear____6.
Whattypeofcaseswerethey,civilorcriminal______7.
Howmanyinvolvedseriousinjuriesorfatalities____8.
Howmanyseriousinjury/fatalitycasesoccurredinconstructionzones____9.
Whichdoyouprefer,civilorcriminal_____Why10.
Whatarethe3mostsatisfyingaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
11.
Whatarethe3moststressfulaspectsofyourjobBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
12.
Howmanyseriousinjury/fatalityDUIcasesdidyouhandlelastyear____13.
Didyouhandleanyvehicularhomicidedefenseslastyear____14.
Whatstepsdoyoutakeinpreparingacriminalcaseforcourtinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities15.
Whatareyour3mainresourcesforpreparingacaseinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities1.
2.
3.
16.
Doyouuseexpertwitnesses____17.
Ifso,whatkindofexpertwitnesses18.
Doinsuranceinvestigatorsplayapartinyourcases_____19.
Doyouprefertohaveajuryorbenchtrial_____Why6920.
Whatistheaveragecostofdefendingaseriousinjury/fatalitytrafficcase_____21.
Areseriousinjury/fatalityDUIaccidentshandleddifferentlythanotherseriousinjury/fatalityaccidents____22.
Explain3additionalstepsyoumusttakewithseriousinjury/fatalityDUIcases.
1.
2.
3.
23.
a.
Doyouusetrafficanimationsoftwareforcourtpresentations____b.
Whatbrandofsoftwarec.
Howmuchdoesitcostd.
Doyouuseconsultants_____24.
Arejudgesandjuriesreceptivetotrafficanimationsoftware_____25.
What3mainfactorsdoyouthinkdetermineacaseinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalitiestobegoodforpleabargainingBrieflyexplaineach.
1.
2.
3.
26.
Give3scenarioswhenyouwouldnotacceptapleabargaininacaseinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities.
1.
2.
3.
27.
Pleabargainingisausefultoolfordealingwithnon-fataltrafficaccidents.
StronglyDisagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStronglyAgree1234528.
HowresourcefularethepoliceinyourcaseNotAtAllVeryHelpfulSomewhatVeryHelpfulExtremelyHelpful1234529.
Whatare3problemsyouhavewithhowpolicehandletraffic-relatedcasesinvolvingseriousinjuriesorfatalities1.
2.
3.
70VITAKARENL.
BEISELPersonalData:DateofBirth:April27,1973PlaceofBirth:WestMemphis,ArkansasMaritalStatus:SingleEducation:PublicSchools,Tazewell,VirginiaEastTennesseeStateUniversity,JohnsonCity,Tennessee:BroadcastNews,CriminalJustice/Criminology,B.
A.
,1995.
EastTennesseeStateUniversity,JohnsonCity,Tennessee:CriminalJustice/Criminology,M.
A.
,2002ProfessionalPrivateInvestigator,Tazewell,Experience:Virginia,1998-1999.
FoodInspector,UnitedStatesDepartmentOfAgriculture,FoodSafetyInspectionService,1999-Present.
Honorsand1994-1995Who'sWhoAmongStudentsinAwards:AmericanCollegesandUniversities.
EastTennesseeStateUniversity,UnsungHeroAward.