EVALUATION OF THE MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT'S MASTER CALENDAR PROJECT - PHASE 1-FEBRUARY 1 JUNE 30, 1971

• NCJ Number: 9995
• Author(s): J B JENNINGS
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 126 pages
• Corporate Author: Rand Corporation
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

INTERNAL REORGANIZATION OF THE COURT IS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF QUALITY OF JUSTICE, PROCESSING EFFICIENCY, THE BURDEN ON PARTICIPANTS, JOB SATISFACTION, AND DIGNITY.

Abstract

DATA REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COURT WERE OBTAINED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, INCLUDING COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICAL REPORTS, OBSERVATION, INTERVIEWS, AND QUESTIONNAIRES. FINDINGS OF THE DATA ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE MASTER CALENDAR PROJECT (MAP) RESULTED IN REDUCED WORKLOADS FOR LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONFERENCES AND CASE PREPARATION. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WERE ADDED AND THE DISPOSITION OF CASES IN COURT BECAME MORE RAPID. GREATER UTILIZATION OF THE CALENDAR JUDGE'S TIME WAS ATTAINED AND A SMALLER FRACTION OF DEFENDANTS LOST THROUGH BAIL AND PAROLE JUMPING IN THE MAP PROJECT. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MAP PROJECT WAS COMPARED TO ANOTHER NEW SYSTEM CALLED 'ALL-PURPOSE PARTS'. THE MAP PROJECT INVOLVED MORE DEFENSE-PROSECUTION CONFERENCES, A HIGHVOLUME CASELOAD, GREATER ACTIVITY AND LARGER NUMBER OF PARTIES IN DAILY COURT OPERATIONS THAN DID THE MORE BALANCED SYSTEM OF ALL-PURPOSE PARTS. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE MAP PROJECT'S PROBLEM DERIVED FROM HIGH-VOLUME OPERATION.