NCJ Number
154397
Date Published
1995
Length
101 pages
Annotation
Formal surveys, personal interviews, and five site visits were used to collect data on this project examining the growing use of electronic public access systems (EPASs) in State-managed trial court automation projects.
Abstract
The study found that EPASs are growing in terms of number, membership, and services as courts try to improve public service and public access to information and to reduce demands on court clerks in response to the public's request for information. The predominant databases accessed across the country involve case processing and land records; users include attorneys, title searchers, credit and background check companies, and new media. This report describes how courts set up their electronic access systems; outlines systems at the State and Federal level and in the private sector; discusses types of users; and summarizes training procedures. Major issues in implementing EPASs include establishing the need, planning for implementation, determining underlying policies, defining current system capability, identifying the delivery method, marketing the service, providing user training and support, guaranteeing security, accounting for costs, and preparing for future development. Barriers to successful implementation are discussed in terms of human, technical, and managerial problems. 6 appendixes