The DCH and ICH screens will only display one line of text in the "short title" column which results in an incomplete offense title. When a person is charged with an attempted crime, the information system requires two lines of text. The first line displays the underlying crime and RCW (burglary, for example) and the second line displays the attempt and related RCW (RCW 9A.28.020). In the DCH and ICH screens, it shows that the title of the crime the person was convicted of was the underlying crime and not display the attempt.
Charging an attempt reduces a crime by one seriousness level. For example, it reduces a Class B felony to a Class C and a Class C felony to a gross misdemeanor.
if the customer drills down to a more comprehensive view of the case, the display of information is complete. Two lines of text will be displayed for the crime and so it is clear that the defendant was only convicted of the attempt. If a customer using SCOMIS views the Display Charge screen, it will display the attempt. If the customer using JABS drills down to the Summary of the case, it will also display the attempt modifier.
Customers who rely on the display of information in the DCH or the ICH see incomplete information.
I have attached examples of screens from an actual case in RN 110324-000026.
Attachment 1 is the DCH screen, which appears to show that a guilty plea was entered on two charges of Assault 3 Law Enforcement Officer, which is a Class C felony. Attachment 2 is the ICH screen from JABS which shows similar information.
Attachment 3 is the SCOMIS Display Charge screen, which displays two lines of text and shows that the Guilty was entered on the Attempted crimes (which are gross misdemeanors) from the first amended complaint. Attachment 4 is the Case Summary from JABS, which also shows that the Guilty result was on the Attempts in the amended complaint. So, the system contains the correct information on what happened in this case, but on two screens the information displays in a way that customers may not expect.
My guess is that this may also occur when a person is charged with solicitation to commit an underlying crime (RCW 9A.28.030) or conspiracy to commit an underlying crime (RCW 9A.28.040) but I have not seen actual cases involving a solicitation or conspiracy charge. They are charged similarly to attempt, though, with two RCW sections--that of the underlying offense and that of the modifier. |
