NCJ Number
27489
Date Published
1973
Length
49 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO EXAMINE EMPIRICALLY WHETHER THE NUMBER OF ELAPSED DAYS FROM ARREST TO DISPOSITION DECREASED (IN CRIMINAL COURT LITIGATION CASES) AS A RESULT OF EMPLOYMENT OF COURT ADMINISTRATORS.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING THE DATA WAS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF EMPLOYING COURT ADMINISTRATORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURTS OF KENTUCKY. THIS WAS DONE BY AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPENDENT VARIABLE OF ELAPSED DAYS BETWEEN ARREST AND DISPOSITION OF CRIMINAL COURT CASES AND THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE, COURT PROCEDURES BEFORE AND AFTER INTRODUCING NEW MANAGEMENT METHODS. THE CASES USED FOR THE STUDY SAMPLE WERE SELECTED FROM THE CRIMINAL COURT FILES OF FRANKLIN, MADISON, FAYETTE, AND CLARK COUNTIES CIRCUIT COURTS OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY FROM TWO SIX MONTHS PERIODS OF TIME NOVEMBER 1, 1971 THROUGH APRIL 30, 1972 (WHEN THE COURTS HAD NO COURT ADMINISTRATOR) AND NOVEMBER 1, 1972 THROUGH APRIL 30, 1973 (WHEN THE COURTS DID HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR. MEDIAN SCORES WERE DETERMINED TO ALLOW COMPARISONS TO BE MADE OF ELAPSED DAYS WITH AND WITHOUT COURT ADMINISTRATORS AND A CHI-SQUARE TEST WAS USED TO ASSESS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DATA ON TIME ELAPSED UNDER THE TWO DIFFERENT COURT MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS. THE MEDIAN SCORE FOR ALL COUNTIES WITH COURT ADMINISTRATORS SHOWED A SCORE FOR ALL COUNTIES WITH COURT ADMINISTRATORS SHOWED A COMPARED TO THE COUNTY MEDIAN WITHOUT A COURT ADMINISTRATOR. THE STATISTICAL TEST OF THE DATA FAILED TO GIVE ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES, HOWEVER. (THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF CASES. IN THE SAMPLE AND THE RELATIVELY BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME FROM WHICH THE SAMPLE WAS TAKEN. AREAS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ARE ALSO SUGGESTED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)