NCJ Number
9434
Date Published
1967
Length
24 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS FACING JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION IN COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES AND THE WAYS IN WHICH COMPUTER FACILITIES CAN HELP TO ALLEVIATE THEM.
Abstract
THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FOUND THAT ' AMERICA'S SYSTEM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS OVERCROWDED AND OVERWORKED, UNDERMANNED, UNDERFINANCED AND VERY OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD'. FOUR PRINCIPAL PROBLEM AREAS FOR WHICH A JUDICIAL DATA CENTER MIGHT OFFER THE PROPER SOLUTION ARE EMPHASIZED. THE FIRST IS CRIMINAL COURT OVERLOAD AND TRIAL DELAY. THE CENTER CAN AUTOMATE CLERICAL DECISIONS, MANAGE THE COURT CALENDAR, IMPARTIALLY DISTRIBUTE THE JUDGES' WORKLOAD, AND GENERALLY ACCELERATE MUCH OF THE COMPLEX PAPERWORK INVOLVED IN COURT SCHEDULING. THE SECOND PROBLEM AREA IS THE DUPLICATION AND NONCOORDINATION RESULTING FROM VARIOUS SEMI-INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENTS FURNISHING THEIR OWN SERVICES AND KEEPING THEIR OWN RECORDS. THE CENTER CAN MONITOR AND COORDINATE BOTH SERVICES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION. THE THIRD AREA COVERED IS THE CENTRALIZATION OF FILES ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITY WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE DATA CENTER AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OFFENDER INFORMATION. FINALLY, BY MAINTAINING A COMPUTERIZED TRIAL CALENDAR, THE CENTER CAN HELP TO PREVENT CIVIL CALENDAR CONGESTION. (SNI ABSTRACT)