NCJ Number
57884
Date Published
1979
Length
135 pages
Annotation
A CITIZEN VOLUNTEER FAMILY COURT MONITORING PROJECT FOR FOUR NEW YORK COUNTIES IS DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH A CITIZEN INFORMATION BOOTH PROJECT AND A COURT PHYSICAL FACILITIES SURVEY DEVELOPED AS OUTGROWTHS OF THE MONITORING PROJECT.
Abstract
THE CITIZEN MONITORING OF FAMILY COURTS IN CHEMUNG, KINGS, ROCKLAND, AND TOMPKINS COUNTIES WAS AN EXPANSION OF AN EARLIER CITIZEN MONITORING OF CRIMINAL COURTS IN NEW YORK. ABOUT 500 CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT, WHICH CONSISTED OF DATA COLLECTION ON THE PROCESSING, TREATMENT, AND PLACEMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND STATUS OFFENDER CASES, ALONG WITH ASSESSMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING OF THE COURT, QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION, ADJOURNMENT AND DELAY FACTORS, AND PHYSICAL FACILITIES. RESULTS SHOWED A GENERAL NEED FOR CLARIFICATION OF RIGHTS AND CHARGES TO THE PARTIES, THE POSTING OF CALENDARS, THE IDENTIFICATION OF COURTROOMS AND OFFICES, MINIMUM PHYSICAL STANDARDS FOR COURTHOUSE FACILITIES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION SERVICES IN THE COURTS. IN ADDITION, A PILOT PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH INFORMATION BOOTHS IN THREE FAMILY COURTS, STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS. WHILE THIS SERVICE WAS ACTIVE AND HELPFUL DURING THE PEAK MORNING HOURS OF COURT ACTIVITY, IDLENESS AND BOREDOM WERE EXPERIENCED BY THE VOLUNTEERS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. INVOLVEMENT IN COURT MONITORING IS SUGGESTED FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS, ON A ROTATING BASIS. SPECIALIZED SURVEYS OF COURT PHYSICAL FACILITIES WERE CONDUCTED FOR 12 COUNTIES, WHICH INVOLVED INTERVIEWS WITH COURT PERSONNEL AND EVALUATIONS OF THE FACILITIES BY TRAINED CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS. AREAS EVALUATED FOR FAMILY COURTS INCLUDED WAITING ROOMS, PUBLIC RESTROOMS, CHILDCARE FACILITIES, DETENTION AREAS, AND COURTROOMS. ADEQUACY OF SECURITY PRECAUTIONS, PROVISION OF INFORMATION SERVICES, LIGHTING, VENTILATION, AND MAINTENANCE WERE ALSO EXAMINED. REPORTS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH OF THE FOUR COUNTY'S MONITORING PROJECTS. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)