NCJ Number
54308
Date Published
1978
Length
71 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZING AND IMPLEMENTING VOLUNTEER COURT-MONITORING PROJECTS ARE PRESENTED IN A MANUAL DEVELOPED BY A SOCIAL CHANGE ORGANIZATION.
Abstract
THE MANUAL IS DIRECTED TO CITIZENS INTERESTED IN INVESTIGATING AND EVALUATING THE STANDARD OF JUSTICE IN THEIR LOCAL COURTS, SPECIFICALLY TO PERSONS ACTING AS COORDINATORS OF VOLUNTEER COURT-MONITORING PROGRAMS. COURT MONITORING IS DEFINED, AND THE CHANGES THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH MONITORING PROJECTS ARE DISCUSSED. GUIDELINES FOR ORGANIZING A MONITORING PROJECT ARE PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH AN ORGANIZATION SCHEDULE. ALSO INCLUDED ARE SUGGESTIONS FOR RECRUITING, MOTIVATING, AND TRAINING VOLUNTEERS, CHOOSING COURTS, AND FORMULATING A FINAL REPORT. THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COORDINATOR, MONITORS, PERSONS WHO TABULATE THE DATA GATHERED BY THE MONITORS, AND REPORT WRITER ARE EXPLAINED. TRAINING RESOURCES (BOOKS, FILMS, SLIDE SHOWS, SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION) ARE IDENTIFIED. A COPY OF A TABULATION SHEET TO BE USED BY MONITORS IN RECORDING DATA IS PROVIDED, TOGETHER WITH A CODING GUIDE, EXPLAINING WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHILE MONITORING COURT SESSIONS AND HOW TO FILL OUT THE TABULATION SHEET. ALSO PROVIDED IS AN ARTICLE DESCRIBING A COURT-WATCHING PROGRAM IN MASSACHUSETTS, AN EXAMPLE OF AN EFFECTIVELY WRITTEN FINAL REPORT, SAMPLE VOLUNTEER APPLICATION AND COURT MONITOR JOB DESCRIPTION FORMS, AND A TRAINING EXERCISE. THE MATERIALS WERE DEVELOPED FOR USE IN MONITORING LOWER CRIMINAL COURTS (DISTRICT COURTS) IN MASSACHUSETTS AND MAY BE MODIFIED AS NECESSARY FOR APPLICATION IN OTHER STATES. (LKM)