NCJ Number
52361
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF A 1977 NATIONAL SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS COURTS, WHICH INDICATED GREAT DISSATISFACTION WITH BUT LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF COURTS AND SUPPORT FOR REFORM ARE DISCUSSED AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS DRAWN.
Abstract
SURVEY RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT HOLD THE COURTS IN HIGH ESTEEM, BUT THERE IS NOT STRONG EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD DISSATISFACTION WITH THE COURTS, AND SOME RESPONSES PROBABLY REFLECT ATTITUDES TOWARD POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN GENERAL. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH COURTS IS ASSOCIATED WITH DIMINISHED RESPECT FOR THEM, BUT MORE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE HOW PARTICULAR TYPES OF EXPERIENCES AFFECT ATTITUDES TOWARD COURTS. THERE IS A SUPPORTIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD COURT IMPROVEMENT AND REFORM, AND THERE IS A GENUINE COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC TO PAY MORE TAXES FOR COURT IMPROVEMENT. THERE ARE VERY WIDE DIFFERENCES IN PERCEPTIONS OF COURTS' ROLES AND FUNCTIONS BETWEEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE THREE LEADERSHIP GROUPS--JUDGES, LAWYERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS--THAT WERE ALSO PART OF THE SURVEY SAMPLE. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE EXPERIMENTING WITH ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE-RESOLUTION MECHANISMS (AN OPINION SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC SURVEY ATTITUDES), UNDERTAKING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE DELIVERY OF SERVICES IN LOCAL COURTS, PAYING INCREASED ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMS AND PERCEPTIONS OF MINORITIES WHO OFTEN CRITICIZED INEQUALITY IN COURT PROCEDURES WHEN SURVEYED, IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE COURT AND PUBLIC (PERHAPS BY INTRODUCING PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS), AND CONDUCTING FURTHER RESEARCH ABOUT COURTS AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES. TABULAR DATA AND NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)