NCJ Number
58580
Date Published
1979
Length
46 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF DELAWARE'S FAMILY COURT ARBITRATION UNIT AFTER 1 YEAR OF OPERATION IS PRESENTED; PROJECT GOALS, PURPOSES, OPERATION, STUDY FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
TO SOME INDIVIDUALS, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT WAS TO DIVERT YOUTH FROM FURTHER JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT; TO OTHERS, THE INTENT WAS TO EXPEDITE THE FLOW OF CASES THROUGH THE COURT WITH MINIMAL COSTS. SPECIFIC CASELOAD GOALS WERE TO PROCESS 240 TO 260 CASES PER MONTH IN THE NEW CASTLE, DEL., OFFICE; TO PROCESS 40 TO 60 CASES PER MONTH IN EACH OF THE KENT AND SUSSEX COUNTY OFFICES; AND TO PROCESS 60 PERCENT OF ALL TARGET CASES, I.E., MISDEMEANORS, THROUGH THE ARBITRATION UNIT AND THEREBY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS FOR JUDICIAL ACTION BY 20 PERCENT. THESE GOALS WERE MET DURING THE PERIOD EVALUATED; FROM JUNE 1977 THROUGH DECEMBER 1978, THE UNIT PROCESSED 5,771 CASES. THE AVERAGE COST ASSOCIATED WITH PROCESSING A CASE THROUGH THE ARBITRATION UNIT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $18.72; ESTIMATED PER CASE COSTS THROUGH JUDICIAL AVENUES WAS $48.00. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE ARBITRATION UNIT IS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT IN PROCESSING DEFENDANTS AND CASES, ALLOWS CRIME VICTIMS TO HELP DETERMINE THE FINAL DISPOSITION, AND ENABLES THE COURT TO REVIEW THE CHARGES, DETERMINE THE COUNSEL FACTORS, AND SEEK EFFECTIVE AVENUES FOR RESOLUTION. MOST IMPORTANT, IT ENABLES DEFENDANTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE PROGRAM TO LEAVE WITHOUT A RECORD INDICATING AN ADJUDICATION OF DELINQUENCY OR A FINDING OF GUILT. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROJECT STAFF APPLY TO LEAA FOR CONSIDERATION AS AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT, AND THAT THE STAFF IMMEDIATELY WRITE DOWN THE CRITERIA USED TO DETERMINE CASE ARBITRATION. TABULAR INFORMATION AND APPENDIXES INCLUDING FLOW CHARTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE EVALUATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)