NCJ Number
53542
Journal
LAW AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (3RD QUARTER 1978) Pages: 75-92
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF A STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF THE USE OF AUTOMATED LEGAL RESEARCH IN COMPARISON WITH TRADITIONAL MANUAL RESEARCH METHODS.
Abstract
AUTOMATED LEGAL RESEARCH (ALR) INVOLVES A COMPUTERIZED APPROACH TO RESEARCH ON SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS. THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AND THE SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE SITES AND AGENCIES TO RECEIVE ALR TERMINALS. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ALR WAS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF ONSITE ALR TERMINAL USAGE DATA COLLECTION, DATA ANALYSIS, AND ASSESSMENT. FOUR KEY AREAS WERE CONSIDERED: THE EFFICIENCY OF ALR RELATIVE TO EXISTING METHODS OF LEGAL RESEARCH; THE COSTS OF ALR; THE BEST ORGANIZATIONAL SETTINGS FOR ALR; AND THE SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS OF ALR. EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED AFTER THE SYSTEM WAS IN USE FOR 6 MONTHS. FIVE TYPES OF AGENCIES USED THE SYSTEM: APPELLATE COURT, TRIAL COURT, ATTORNEY GENERAL, PROSECUTOR, AND PUBLIC DEFENDER. NO APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE IN EFFICIENCY BETWEEN ALR AND MANUAL RESEARCH WAS NOTED IN TERMS OF OVERALL RESEARCH QUALITY AND TIME UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. WHEN AN AGENCY ORGANIZED TO USE THE SERVICE, HOWEVER, THE EFFICIENCY OF ALR INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. TRAINED SPECIALISTS OPERATING THE TERMINALS WERE IMPORTANT IN ACHIEVING OPTIMUM USE OF ALR. UNDER THE CONDITIONS STUDIED, IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ALR IS NOT AN ECONOMICALLY PRACTICAL RESEARCH TOOL FOR MOST CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AT THIS TIME. ALTHOUGH FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE EXPERIENCES OF THE LEGAL RESEARCHERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT SHOWED THAT ALR DID NOT CONSTITUTE A CLEAR IMPROVEMENT OVER MANUAL RESEARCH. WITH THE REDUCTION IN RENTAL COSTS, THE UPGRADING OF DATA BASES, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIAL CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE REPORT, COST-EFFECTIVE USE OF ALR SYSTEMS APPEARS FEASIBLE IN THE FUTURE. DURING THE INTERIM, PUBLIC AGENCIES INTERESTED IN THESE SYSTEMS SHOULD SHARE ALR WITH SISTER ORGANIZATIONS. DATA OBTAINED FROM THE STUDY ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)