NCJ Number
55674
Date Published
1978
Length
154 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS, DEGREE OF IMPLEMENTATION, AND THE IMPACT DERIVED FROM A JURY MANAGEMENT STUDY IN DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
IN NOVEMBER, 1976, THE CIRCUIT COURT OF DUPAGE COUNTY RECEIVED A FEDERAL GRANT TO STUDY AND IMPROVE ITS JURY SYSTEM. THE 18-MONTH STUDY CONSIDERED THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: JURY SELECTION METHODS, RESPONSIVENESS OF THE JURY SYSTEM TO COURT NEEDS, JURY SERVICE METHODS, THE RANDOMNESS OF SELECTION, COST AND CONDITIONS OF JURY SERVICE, CITIZEN AWARENESS OF JURY SERVICE, PAPER WORK, STATUTES, AND JURY SYSTEM PLAN. THE STATUS OF EACH OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE JURY SYSTEM PRIOR TO THE STUDY, THE NATURE OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGE, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ADOPTED, THE MEANS AND METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE DESIRED CHANGES, THE EFFECT OF THESE CHANGES ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE JURY SYSTEM, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION ALSO ARE CONSIDERED. THE STUDY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ACHIEVED SEVERAL RESULTS: (1) AUTOMATION WAS INTRODUCED TO THE JURY COMMISSION OFFICE; (2) 17 OF 21 MANUAL OPERATIONS WERE ELIMINATED; (3) THE PERSONNEL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WERE REORGANIZED. PERTINENT STATUTES WERE REVISED, ENABLING THE COUNTY TO COMPLY WITH ILLINOIS LAW. FURTHER, THE COUNTY'S IMPROVED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND THE APPLICATION OF MONITORING AND CONTROLLING TECHNIQUES IN THE AREA OF JUROR UTILIZATION ALLOWED THE COURT TO SAVE $38,000.00 ANNUALLY, WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. APPROXIMATELY $12,000 OF THE PROJECT FUNDS WERE SPENT ON ENLARGING AND REMODELING THE JURY LOUNGE. MANY OTHER ASPECTS OF THE JURY SYSTEM WERE ANALYZED, LEADING TO REVISIONS IN EXISTING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES. A SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION IS PROVIDED, AND TOPICS FOR FURTHER STUDY ARE SUGGESTED FOR EACH OF THE NINE AREAS. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA SHOWING THE IMPACT OF CHANGES MADE ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH SAMPLES OF FORMS USED IN NEW PROCEDURES. (RCB)