NCJ Number
47855
Date Published
1978
Length
124 pages
Annotation
A 2-YEAR STUDY OF THE LEXIS, WESTLAW, AND JUSTICE RETRIEVAL AND INQUIRY SYSTEM (JURIS) AUTOMATED LEGAL RESEARCH SYSTEMS AS IMPLEMENTED IN A VARIETY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
LEXIS, OWNED BY MEAD DATA CENTRAL (MDC), IS SPONSORED BY THE ORGANIZED BAR. WESTLAW IS OWNED BY WEST PUBLISHING COMPANY. JURIS IS DEVELOPED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE STUDY EVALUATED THE EFFICIENCY, COST, AND ORGANIZATIONAL AND SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF THE THREE SYSTEMS ON THE BASIS OF DATA GATHERED DURING 6-MONTH DEMONSTRATIONS IN STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES (APPELLATE COURTS, TRIAL COURTS, OFFICES OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL, PROSECUTORS, AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS). THIRTY SYSTEM TERMINALS WERE DEPLOYED IN 20 CITIES IN 8 STATES. PART I OF THE REPORT NARRATES THE BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES, DESIGN, METHODS OF ANALYSIS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PROJECT. PART II PRESENTS TABULATED DATA AND DESCRIBES STATISTICAL METHODS USED TO ANALYZE THE DATA. THE STUDY FOUND THAT, UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, THERE WAS NO APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AUTOMATED AND MANUAL RESEARCH IN TERMS OF OVERALL RESEARCH QUALITY AND TIME. HOWEVER, WHEN AN AGENCY WAS ORGANIZED TO MAKE BEST USE OF AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM, THE SYSTEM'S EFFICIENCY INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO EFFECTIVE USE OF AUTOMATED SYSTEMS INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF USERS AT AN AGENCY, THE ADEQUACY OF TRAINING, ACCESS TO BOTH LEXIS AND WESTLAW, PRESENCE OF AN ASSIGNED SPECIALIST, AND CONVENIENCE OF TERMINAL LOCATION. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH USING THE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS ARE HIGH; CONSEQUENTLY THE SYSTEMS ARE NOT ECONOMICALLY PRACTICAL FOR MOST AGENCIES. SYSTEM SUPPLIERS ARE URGED TO FIND WAYS OF LOWERING THEIR CHARGES AND TO IMPROVE TRAINING FOR SYSTEM USERS. POTENTIAL SYSTEMS USERS ARE URGED TO CONSIDER SHARING AN AUTOMATED RESEARCH TERMINALS WITH OTHER AGENCIES. OTHER FINDINGS, INCLUDING THOSE RELATING TO ATTRIBUTES OF SPECIFIC SYSTEMS, ARE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING MATERIALS -- A BIBLIOGRAPHY, STUDY INSTRUMENTS, DESCRIPTIONS OF THE THREE SYSTEMS -- ARE PROVIDED.