NCJ Number
43773
Date Published
1977
Length
53 pages
Annotation
ISSUES RELATING TO THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GEORGIA'S JUVENILE JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM ARE IDENTIFIED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHERING THE SYSTEM'S PROGRESS ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE GOALS OF THE GEORGIA COUNCIL OF JUVENILE COURT JUDGES ARE TO ESTABLISH A UNIFORM STATISTICS-GATHERING SYSTEM THAT MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS, TO PROVIDE NEEDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COUNTIES, AND TO PROVIDE A SERVICE BUREAU FOR ALL COUNTIES TO SUPPORT STATISTICAL, MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND CASELOAD REPORTING. MAJOR ISSUES RELATED TO THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM ARE CENTRALIZATION VERSUS DECENTRALIZATION, DATA COLLECTION METHODS, NAME VERSUS NUMBER IDENTIFYING SYSTEM, DISSEMINATION CONCERNS, AND INTERFACE BETWEEN INFORMATION SYSTEMS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM BE DEVELOPED, WITH AN INITIAL FOCUS ON HIGH-CASELOAD COURTS. COURT PROCESSING METHODS AND FORMS SHOULD BE STANDARDIZED, AND EFFORTS TO DEVELOP AND TEST A NEW JUVENILE DOCKET FORM SHOULD BE CONTINUED. A MORE DETAILED AND STANDARDIZED JUVENILE INTAKE FORM SHOULD ALSO BE DEVELOPED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A UNIQUE NUMBER IDENTIFIER SYSTEM BE USED IN STORING INFORMATION ON JUVENILES AT THE STATE LEVEL, THAT JUVENILE CASE INFORMATION BE RELEASED ONLY THROUGH THE ORIGINATING AGENCY, AND THAT THE JUVENILE INFORMATION SYSTEM NOT, FOR CONFIDENTIALITY REASONS, INTERFACE WITH THE STATE COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A SAMPLE DOCKET SHEET, SUGGESTIONS REGARDING DATA ELEMENTS, AND OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.