NCJ Number
34945
Date Published
1975
Length
63 pages
Annotation
STUDY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT COURTROOM CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES, BEHAVIOR OF DEFENDANTS AND COURT PERSONNEL, AND DISPOSITION OF CASES TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH CITIZEN OBSERVATION.
Abstract
TWENTY-FOUR ADULT CITIZENS PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY AS VOLUNTEER COURT WATCHERS. A SERIES OF SEVEN TRAINING SESSIONS WAS HELD TO ACQUAINT THE OBSERVERS WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND ITS ARRAIGNMENT PROCEDURES AND TO FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH THE DATA GATHERING FORMS USED. DATA WERE COLLECTED ON 1,395 CRIMINAL NON-TRAFFIC CASES OBSERVED IN THE CRIMINAL ARRAIGNMENT COURTROOMS BETWEEN JANUARY AND JULY, 1975. STUDIES OF DEFENDANT CHARACTERISTICS YIELDED STATISTICS ON THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF OFFENDERS AS WELL AS PINPOINTING FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN COURT OBSERVATION OF JUDGES REVEALED WIDESPREAD VARIATION IN COURTROOM ATMOSPHERE, ADHERENCE TO PRESCRIBED PROCEDURES, USE OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION, AND INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANT OUTCOME. DATA COLLECTED ON COURTROOM CONDITIONS EXPOSED THE DIMINISHED IMAGE OF THE COURT AS A PLACE WHERE JUSTICE IS DISPENSED DUE TO SIZE OF CASELOAD, LACK OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO DEFENDANTS AND COURT, AND THE FAILURE OF COURTROOM PERSONNEL AND PROCEDURES TO COUNTERACT THIS IMAGE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO IMPLEMENT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THE COURT THROUGH LONG-RANGE PLANNING, SELF-EVALUATION, AND ADDITIONAL FINANCING; TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT; AND TO INCREASE COMMUNITY ACTION IN THIS AREA.