NCJ Number
43262
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE METHODOLOGY OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH, USE OF VARIOUS STUDY TECHNIQUES TO ANALYZE COURT PROBLEMS, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COURT RESEARCH STUDIES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
OPERATIONAL RESEARCH TECHNIQUES WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF COURT MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS INCLUDE: THE QUEUING THEORY, WHICH DESCRIBES ARRIVAL RATES OF DEFENDANTS AND CALCULATES WAITING TIMES AT EACH POINT IN THE SYSTEM; SIMULATIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN USED TO STUDY COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND IDENTIFY POINTS AT WHICH CASE BACKLOGS OCCUR; LINEAR PROGRAMMING, TO DETERMINE OPTIMAL ALLOCATION OF LIMITED RESOURCES; MARKOV CHAINS, WHICH DEVELOP FLOW PROCESSES; AND DECISION THEORY, WHICH PRESENTS RESULTS OF ALTERNATIVE DECISIONS. A BASIC PROBLEM IS THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE AS A SYSTEM BUT AS A LOOSE COLLECTION OF INDEPENDENT AGENCIES. POLICE ACTIVITY AFFECTS THE COURTS AND COURT ACTIVITY AFFECTS THE NEEDS OF VARIOUS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES BUT DECISIONS ARE MADE IN EACH WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE OTHER. FOR THIS REASON, OPERATIONAL RESEARCH CANNOT SOLVE ALL COURT PROBLEMS BUT IT HAS SUCCESSFULLY MAXIMIZED RESOURCE USES AND HELPED TO CUT CASE PROCESSING TIME. CASE DELAY STUDIES, CASE FLOW STUDIES, MODELS SHOWING COURTROOM USAGE, AND SCHEDULING MODELS HAVE BEEN USED IN MANY CITIES TO SPEED UP THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES AND FREE JUDGES FOR THEIR PRIMARY WORK, WHICH IS THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE OPERATIONAL RESEARCHER SHOULD BE ON THE STAFF OF THE JUDGE IN CHARGE OF SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION. WHILE THIS JUDGE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE STUDY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED, HE CAN CERTAINLY HINDER ITS IMPLEMENTATION. AT ALL STAGES OF THE STUDY, THE JUDGES SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT OPERATIONS RESEARCH IS A TOOL AND NOT A FINAL DECISION. ALSO THROUGH CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE JUDICIARY, THE RESEARCHER CAN ACQUIRE DEEPER INSIGHTS INTO COURT PROBLEMS AND MAKE HIS ANALYSIS OF GREATER VALUE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.