NCJ Number
86509
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1982) Pages: 154-162
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article describes a computer simulation model of the Adelaide Magistrates' Court (court of summary jurisdiction in Australia) and compares the simulation with data from various sources which can be used to describe that system.
Abstract
Simulation is a computing technique whereby a portrayal of a dynamic system is reproduced in a computer. It is used to study the workings of existing systems or to plan the development of new systems prior to their implementation. It is possible, once a simulation is refined, to test the effects of changes to the system without actually introducing them. The event-based simulation was chosen for this research. In this type of simulation, the model is defined by discrete events which happen to cases. Each time a defined event occurs, the time to the next event of this type is calculated. The future event, along with other calculated attributes is placed on a schedule at its appropriate time. The advantage of event-based models is that the simulation follows the chain of events which actually happen to a case. The major event categories included in the model were (1) first appearance in court, (2) adjournment of the case to another day, (3) nonappearance of the defendant, and (4) the beginning of a summary hearing following a plea of not guilty by the defendant. Results show that the simulation model corresponds closely to the data on actual court processes. The program needs further testing and refinement before hypotheses relating to proposed changes to the system could be tested. Tabular data and seven references are provided.