NCJ Number
56651
Journal
Journal of Systems Management Volume: 29 Issue: 8 Dated: (1978) Pages: 16-23
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS AND FUNCTIONS OF A LOW-COST, COMPUTER-BASED PROSECUTOR'S CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USED IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, MASS.
Abstract
AN AUTOMATED CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PROVIDES ITS USERS WITH AN INCREASED ABILITY TO FULFILL THEIR FUNCTIONS, BUT IT CANNOT REPLACE SKILLED MANAGERS. RATHER, THE USE OF SUCH A SYSTEM PRESUPPOSES THAT MANAGERS WILL OVERSEE ITS OPERATION. THE PROTOTYPE LOW-COST COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM DEVELOPED FOR THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE PRODUCES A DEFENDANT MASTER RECORD CONSISTING OF THE BASIC DATA STORED ON EACH INDIVIDUAL AND THE KEY INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROSECUTION OF EACH CASE. A COMPLETE COURT RECORD IS MAINTAINED ON EACH DEFENDANT AND IS USED IN THE AUTOMATIC NOTIFICATION AND SUMMONS FOR EACH APPEARANCE. A VDT SCREEN IS USED FOR DATA ENTRY; THE COMPUTER PROMPTS THE OPERATOR FOR EACH REQUIRED ELEMENT OF INFORMATION. A CURRENT DEFENDANT MASTER RECORD IS AUTOMATICALLY PRINTED, AND SETTLED CASES ARE PURGED FROM THE COMPUTER FILES. THE SYSTEM ALSO PRODUCES A GRAND JURY LIST FOR ARRANGING THE PROSECUTOR CASELOAD SCHEDULES, AS WELL AS THE PROSECUTOR CASELOAD SUMMARY FOR OFFICE MANAGEMENT. THE INQUIRY CAPABILITY OF THE SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED POWERFUL; THE OPERATOR IS ABLE TO ENTER THE SYSTEM EITHER BY THE CASE NUMBER, DOCKET NUMBER, OR DEFENDANT NAME. COSTS AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED, AND EXAMPLES OF THE COMPUTER PRINTOUTS ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)