NCJ Number
80266
Date Published
1978
Length
153 pages
Annotation
An analysis of present clerical support costs for the Nevada State courts and projected costs of a computerized Judicial Uniform Records Information System (JURIS) indicates that the JURIS cost is justifiable solely on the basis of new clerical positions that would otherwise have to be added to cope with filings in the years to come.
Abstract
An overview of Nevada's court management problems notes that while caseload and case complexity have increased dramatically, caseload management methods have not been modernized. A new clerical system, JURIS, will consist of eight modules: standardized records management; traffic citations processing; indexing/attorney file; docketing and case tracking; accounting; calendaring and notification; warrant, summons, and subpoena control; and reporting. The methodology used to forecast the cost of clerical operations through 1988 is discussed, along with difficulties that the study encountered. A description of the existing clerical system characterizes it as extremely manpower intensive with much repetitive paperwork and posting. It also contains many unnecessary opportunities for posting errors and misfiled records. Benefits that will accrue from developing JURIS are outlined, including an immediate reduction in the amount of clerical work required to adjudicate a case, production of consistent and accurate management information, improved case monitoring, and cost savings. Cooperation among judges, clerks, and other court personnel, however, will be necessary to implement JURIS. A review of the JURIS development cycle covers manpower requirements and time schedules. JURIS should take approximately $640,000 and 3 years to plan and implement. The number of filings that the District, Justice of the Peace, and Municipal courts can anticipate through 1988 are projected and translated into clerical full-time positions. The costs of developing and implementing JURIS are estimated and then contrasted with the costs of providing clerical support under the existing system. This analysis indicates that it will be less expensive to operate JURIS then the present system within 1 year of JURIS implementation and that within 3 years of statewide implementation all the costs incurred in developing JURIS will be recovered by the savings that accrue from having to hire fewer additional clerks to cope with the increasing caseload. Tables, graphs, and descriptions of the statistical techniques used on the study are included.