NCJ Number
14352
Date Published
1974
Length
182 pages
Annotation
REPORT OF SURVEY ON NEW COUNTY COURT SYSTEM INCLUDING AN OBSERVATION OF THE SYSTEM ORGANIZATION, UTILIZATION OF PERSONNEL, AND EDUCATION OF PERSONNEL IN THE SYSTEM.
Abstract
IN MINNESOTA IN 1971, A NEW SYSTEM OF COUNTY COURTS WHICH INCORPORATED THE PROBATE AND MUNICIPAL COURTS AND ADDED SOME CONCURRENT JURISDICTION WITH THE DISTRICT COURTS WAS CREATED. TWENTY-FOUR MULTI-COUNTY DISTRICTS WERE ALSO CREATED FROM 58 COUNTIES WITH THE REMAINING 26 COUNTIES FORMING SINGLE COUNTY DISTRICTS. THE EVALUATION METHODS CONSISTED OF A QUESTIONNAIRE DISTRIBUTED TO COURT PERSONNEL, ON-SITE VISITS, AND SUBJECTIVE DATA SUPPLIED BY COURTS PERSONNEL THROUGHOUT THE STATE. DESCRIPTIVE STUDY INFORMATION ON THE ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE COUNTY COURT DISTRICTS AND BROAD RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM THE SURVEY ARE INCLUDED. IT WAS FOUND THAT SERVICE HAD BEEN IMPROVED BY THE NEW SYSTEM. HOWEVER, IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS A MULTI-JUDGE REDISTRICTING PLAN, COMBINED CLERICAL STAFF FOR DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURTS, AND STATEWIDE FUNDING, PERSONNEL, AND ADMINISTRATION SYSTEMS WERE RECOMMENDED. APPENDED ARE SUCH MATERIALS AS QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES, AN ELABORATION OF SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY, AND RELEVANT STATUTES, LAWS, AND A SECTION OF THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION.