NCJ Number
69798
Date Published
1974
Length
25 pages
Annotation
The development of social and behavioral sciences material for inclusion in the special courts education program for judges is discussed; the effort was funded by $28,585 in unexpended LEAA grant monies.
Abstract
The original grant of $180,896 was approved for four programs including judicial education programs for judges of limited jurisdiction, seminars for judges of general jurisdiction, and criminal law and sentencing instruction. Program IV provided funds to employ an accounts clerk. Upon termination of the grant, $28,585 remained unexpended. The grant was extended by LEAA for the purpose of revising the special court judges' curriculum. The National College of the State Judiciary entered into a consulting agreement with the Menninger Foundation to such recommended curriculum changes in the existing special court program. The consultants observed the 2-week special court program and concluded that it was extremely effective. Lectures were stimulating, well prepared, and presented by effective speakers. The assumption made regarding the introduction of behavioral and social sciences content involved two primary considerations. First, the material would be introduced in the lectures. Lecturers would emphasize or sharpen behavioral and social sciences issues already raised by the lectures as written. Discussion of these issues would occur in small sessions directed by group leaders who would be trained with respect to content issues. It is therefore recommended that lecture material be submitted in advance to program staff members for appropriate modification and that the lecture on the jury be deleted and the material included in the court and the community lecture. Alcoholism should be included in the traffic lecture sequence and not singled out as a separate topic. The lecture on drugs should be included in the criminal law lecture sequence, and the lecture on the offender should be incorporated in the sentencing sequence.