NCJ Number
41450
Date Published
1977
Length
261 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY IS A CROSS-NATIONAL COMPARISON OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEMS OF THE SEVEN INDUSTRIALIZED DEMOCRACIES OF ITALY, FRANCE, ENGLAND-WALES, CANADA, SWEDEN, WEST GERMANY, AND THE UNITED STATES (CALIFORNIA).
Abstract
THIS COMPARATIVE STUDY RESPONDS TO THE ONGOING DEBATE IN THE UNITED STATES CONCERNING THE PROPER LEVELS OF MANPOWER AND EXPENDITURE THAT SHOULD BE COMMITTED TO THE COURTS AND RELATED INSTITUTIONS. THE MAJOR PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO PROVIDE A COMPARATIVE CONTEXT FOR THIS DEBATE. THE AUTHORS COLLECTED AND ANALYZED STATISTICS FROM SIX ANALOGOUS INDUSTRIAL, DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES. THE RESEARCHERS SOUGHT TO DERIVE INDICATORS FOR THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEMS OF THE COUNTRIES, INCLUDING COURTS, PROSECUTION, LEGAL AID, AND FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES, POLICE AND CORRECTIONS. WITH RESPECT TO EACH COMPONENT, THE AUTHORS INVESTIGATED SEVERAL DIMENSIONS: MANPOWER LEVELS, GOVERNMENT INTERESTS, CASELOAD AND THE LIKE. IN ORDER TO NEUTRALIZE THE EFFECTS OF POPULATION DIFFERENCES AND ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, RAW DATA WAS CONVERTED TO NET INDICATORS, SUCH AS JUDGES PER CAPITA, LAWYERS PER $10 MILLION NATIONAL INCOME, AND SO FORTH. THE REPORT IS ORGANIZED INTO THREE PARTS. PART ONE INTRODUCE THE SEVEN JURISDICTIONS EXAMINED IN THE STUDY, COMPARING THEM IN DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC TERMS. PART TWO DESCRIBES THE JUSTICE SYSTEMS OF THE SIX FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. EACH COUNTRY'S COURT SYSTEM, LEGAL PROFESSION, AND NON-JUDICIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION MACHINERY IS DESCRIBED. A STATISTICAL OVERVIEW OF EACH JURISDICTION'S SYSTEM IS ALSO PROVIDED. PART THREE CONSISTS OF A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE STATISTICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE SEVEN JUSTICE SYSTEMS WITH INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS ON THE COURTS, THE LEGAL PROFESSION, AND TOTAL JUSTICE SYSTEM EXPENDITURES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) ...MSP