NCJ Number
186117
Date Published
December 2000
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This review of a May 2000 Ernst and Young study as it pertained to courtroom use and sharing concluded that the study was not designed to provide the type of data and analysis that the General Accounting Office (GAO) and other research organizations have determined would be needed to help resolve the issue of courtroom sharing.
Abstract
Earlier GAO research has suggested that opportunities may exist to reduce costs by building fewer full-sized trial courtrooms. One GAO study revealed that during 1995, courtrooms were used for trials less than one third of 250 Federal workdays. Nevertheless, these results were not generalizable to all district courtrooms. Therefore, the GAO recommended further research to examine courtroom use fully. However, appropriate data and analysis continue to be lacking. Such data would show how often and for what purposes courtrooms are being used and the impact that other factors, including courtroom scheduling uncertainties and latent use, may have in determining the need for courtrooms. A cost-effective, empirical assessment that would generate data on actual courtroom use is crucial to informed decision making about the feasibility of courtroom sharing. It is impossible without these data to determine more conclusively whether courtroom-sharing opportunities exist. Therefore, Congress should consider requiring the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide persuasive courtroom use data and analysis, along with its opinions to justify the number of courtrooms being requested in future courthouse construction projects before funding is approved. Footnotes and appended methodological and background information