NCJ Number
43775
Date Published
1977
Length
39 pages
Annotation
THE VALIDITY, RELIABILITY, AND UTILITY OF STATISTICS GATHERED BY NEW HAMPSHIRE COURTS ARE ASSESSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING RECORDKEEPING AND CASE-COUNTING PRACTICES ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
DURING ONSITE VISITS TO 10 OF THE STATE'S 41 DISTRICT COURTS AND 5 OF THE 10 SUPERIOR COURTS, INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH COURT CLERKS, DEPUTY CLERKS, PAROLE OFFICERS, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE GATHERING OF STATISTICS. THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF MONITORING AND COMPILING STATISTICS AT THE STATE LEVEL WAS ALSO CONTACTED. PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICT COURT STATISTICAL SYSTEM ARE IDENTIFIED AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OFFERED RELATIVE TO JUVENILE, SMALL CLAIMS, AND CRIMINAL CASE COUNTS; THE STATISTICAL REPORTING PERIOD; REPORTING FORMS; CRIMINAL AND MOTOR VEHICLE CASE REPORTING; LANDLORD AND TENANT CASE REPORTING; JUVENILE DISPOSITIONS REPORTING; ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES; AND CASE REPORTING IN THE LARGER DISTRICT COURTS. FOR THE SUPERIOR COURT STATISTICAL SYSTEM, PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS RELATE TO TIMELINESS AND UTILITY OF REPORTS AND THE RECORDING OF STATISTICS ON NON-JUDGE WORKLOADS, DAYS IN SESSION, ISSUE DATE IN CIVIL CASES, AND CRIMINAL CASE PROCESS INFORMATION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT INSTALLATION OF A SOPHISTICATED, COMPUTERIZED STATISTICAL SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE COST-BENEFICIAL FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS. PROVISION OF RECORDKEEPING ASSISTANCE FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS IS ACCORDED HIGHER PRIORITY. DEVELOPMENT OF A CASE-MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THE SUPERIOR COURTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF A SIMPLIFIED, UNIFORM RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM IS SUGGESTED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE DATA BEING COLLECTED BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE COURTS ARE SUFFICIENT FOR MOST PURPOSES, BUT THAT THE DATA ARE NOT BEING ANALYZED. COPIES OF THE REPORTING FORMS USED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S COURT STATISTICAL SYSTEM ARE PROVIDED.