NCJ Number
386
Date Published
1971
Length
131 pages
Annotation
A SURVEY OF CASE FLOW PROVIDES A BASIS FOR IMPROVING ALLOCATION OF COURT RESOURCES AND FOR PLANNING SUBCONTRACT UNDER NYSOCCP COURT REFORM.
Abstract
THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF THE FLOW OF ADULT DEFENDANTS ARRESTED IN 1968 AND 1969 THROUGH THE MANHATTAN BRANCH OF THE NEW YORK CITY CRIMINAL COURT ARE PRESENTED. THE PRODUCTS OF THE SURVEY, IN WHICH THE APPEARANCE HISTORIES OF SOME 5,000 CASES WERE ANALYZED, INCLUDE PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE SEQUENCE OF COURT PARTS THROUGH WHICH CASES PASS, THE NUMBER OF APPEARANCES MADE IN EACH PART, THE TOTAL DURATION OF THE ADJUDICATORY PROCESS, AND THE LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN COURT APPEARANCES. THIS INFORMATION PROVIDES A BASIS FOR IMPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF THE COURT RESOURCES AND FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATING COURT REFORMS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE DURATION OF ALL ADULT ARREST CASES WHICH ENTERED THE COURT IN 1969 WAS 9.0 WEEKS. APPROXIMATELY 5% OF SUCH CASES REQUIRED MORE THAN 10 MONTHS FOR DISPOSITION. A COMPARISON OF 1968 AND 1969 CASES REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE DURATION OF FELONY AND VIOLATION CASES. THERE WAS A 22( REDUCTION IN THE DURATION OF MISDEMEANOR CASES. THE NUMBER OF MISDEMEANOR CASES PROCESSED BY THE COURT ROSE BY 27(. THE SEQUENCE OF COURT PARTS THROUGH WHICH CASES PASS WAS INVESTIGATED. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DISTINCT SEQUENCES OBSERVED WAS APPROXIMATELY 100; 90( OF ALL CASES FOLLOWED ONE OF EIGHT OR NINE DIRECT PATHS THROUGH THE ARRAIGNMENT, HEARING, AND TRIAL STAGES OF THE ADJUDICATORY PROCESS. THE REPORT PRESENTS SUGGESTIONS FOR THE REPETITION OF SURVEYS OF THIS TYPE BY COURT PERSONNEL ON A REGULAR BASIS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) CONCORD (NH)