FLORIDA - REPORT ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING A STATE-WIDE COURT PERSONNEL STUDY - CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 39599
• Author(s): H O LAWSON; B M MONTAGUE; G W ALLISON; R C CASSIDY
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 37 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-043-72
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPORT EXAMINES PLIGHT OF THOSE WHO ADMINISTER FLORIDA'S STATE COURTS AND OFFERS SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT, SUCH AS A STATEWIDE COURT PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

COURT PERSONNEL MAKE UP 60 PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE FLORIDA JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THERE ARE SOME 4,000 TRIAL COURT EMPLOYEES, BUT ONLY 265 OF THESE ARE AUTHORIZED FOR FUNDING AT THE STATE LEVEL; THE REST ARE LOCALLY FUNDED. WHILE THE STATE'S ATTORNEYS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS ARE LOCALLY ELECTED, THEY AND THEIR STAFF ARE STATE FUNDED. THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STANDARD, STATEWIDE PERSONNEL SYSTEM WITH ALL POSITIONS SURVEYED FOR CLASSIFICATION. THE STATEWIDE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECRUITING, HIRING, SUPERVISION, DISCIPLINE, PROMOTION, AND REMOVAL, AS WELL AS SETTING SALARY SCALES AND DETERMINING FRINGE BENEFITS....BS