MANAGING CASE FILES IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

• NCJ Number: 12380
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 75 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-TA-99-0018
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National District Atorneys Assoc
• Sale Source: National District Atorneys Assoc
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS AS TO SYSTEM DESIGN, INDEXING, CHECKOUT PROCEDURES, AND ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE, INACTIVE, AND CLOSED FILES.

Abstract

WITHOUT AN EFFICIENT RECORDKEEPING OPERATION, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CANNOT EFFECTIVELY AND EXPEDIENTLY PROSECUTE CRIMINAL CASES. CASE FOLDERS THAT ARE LOST, INCOMPLETE, OR MISFILED CAUSE UNDUE DELAY, AGGRAVATION AND EXPENSE. SUCH A SEEMINGLY ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER CAN ACTUALLY SUBVERT JUSTICE FOR THE DEFENDANT IN OUR CRIMINAL ADJUDICATION PROCESS. THIS HANDBOOK PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR THE PROSECUTOR WHO DESIRES TO ANALYZE HIS SYSTEM OF FILING CASE FOLDERS AND PLAN CHANGES TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY IN HIS OPERATION. CAREFUL PLANNING AND DESIGN, THE HANDBOOK SUGGESTS, ARE CRITICAL TO AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM. THE ADMINISTRATOR WHO UNDERTAKES THIS PLANNING SHOULD CAREFULLY SELECT THE PROPER METHODS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND THEN GRANT AUTHORITY TO A CAPABLE SUPERVISOR TO MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK. THE MANUAL INCLUDES SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS AS TO SYSTEM DESIGNS, INDEXING, CHECKOUT PROCEDURE, AND ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVE, INACTIVE, AND CLOSED FILES. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A LIST OF STATE AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR RECORDS DISPOSITION INFORMATION, A LISTING OF PROSECUTOR TRAINING COORDINATORS BY STATE, AND A MODEL CASE FILE JACKET. THE PROSECUTOR WHO DESIRES TO REDUCE LOST MANHOURS AND DISORGANIZATION FROM HIS RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM WILL FIND HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS IN THIS VOLUME. (SNI ABSTRACT)