NCJ Number
29523
Date Published
Unknown
Length
46 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION GRANTS DESIGNED TO SOLVE STATE AND LOCAL COURT PROBLEMS IN CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, ILLINOIS, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW YORK, AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Abstract
IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT LEAA HAS NOT MADE SURE THAT ITS GRANTS FOR STATE COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS ARE DIRECTED TO CAUSES OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN STATE AND LOCAL COURTS. STATE PLANS, THE BASES FOR RECEIVING LEAA FUNDS, DID NOT ADEQUATELY DEFINE WHAT WAS NEEDED WHERE OR WHY, TO SOLVE THEIR MOST CRITICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE FIVE STATES CONSIDERED BACKLOG AND DELAY TO BE THEIR MOST SERIOUS COURT PROBLEM, ONLY A FIFTH OF GRANT FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED TO PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF COURT ADMINISTRATION. LACK OF ADEQUATE COURT SYSTEM INFORMATION AND STATISTICS PARTLY CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. WITHOUT SUCH DATA, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHICH COURTS HAD THE MOST SERIOUS PROCESSING DELAYS AND WHETHER COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS LESSEN THE PROBLEM. DEFICIENCIES WERE ALSO FOUND IN EXPERT ASSISTANCE BY THE LEAA REGIONAL OFFICES TO LOCAL COURTS, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND NATIONAL EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS. LEAA DID NOT EVALUATE THE RESULTS OF ITS COURT PROGRAM NOR PROVIDE STATES WITH CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OR TRAINING IN EVALUATION METHODS. A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS IS OFFERED TO REMEDY THESE PROBLEMS. AMONG THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF COURT STATISTICAL REPORTING SYSTEMS, THE DESIGN OF EFFECTIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.