Guide to the Sources of Data on Criminal Cases Processed in the Cook County Circuit Court

• NCJ Number: 92318
• Author(s): K P Smith; J Zuehl
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 76 pages
• Corporate Author: IllinoisCriminal Justice Information Authority
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This preliminary report is designed to aid researchers and policymakers interested in studying cases processed in the Cook County Court, which handles by far the largest number of criminal cases in Illinois. It represents a starting point for a statewide project to increase the availability of court data.

Abstract

Arranged in three sections, the report provides a brief and basic guide to the formal organization of the court, discusses in somewhat greater detail the procedures by which felony cases are presented, and examines at length the sources of useful data which are currently generated by or are available through the court system. Descriptions of the court's manual and computerized information systems are also included. In addition, four appendixes contain samples of the forms used and the statistical reports regularly produced by the courts. Charts, maps, and extensive tabular material are supplied. (Author abstract modified)