NCJ Number
96478
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 74 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1983) Pages: 1589-1607
Date Published
1983
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Several conceptual, measurement, and analytical problems arise in applying the concept of case processing time to data gathered in four State courts which have instituted innovations designed to reduce case processing time.
Abstract
Data came from State trial courts of general jurisdiction in Providence, R.I.; Dayton, Ohio; Las Vegas; and Detroit. At each site, official court records provided case processing information. Key dates in the life-history of a case were collected, including the dates of filing, arraignment, disposition, and sentencing. Criminal cases were sampled for 1 year prior to the introduction of the program and 1 year after introduction. Analyzing total case processing time was found to provide too gross a measure, because it lumps together distinct phases. Thus, individual time frames were analyzed: lower court time, trial court time, and sentencing time. Because not all case processing time is attributable to the court, only time under the control over the court required measurement. Various types of statistical measures were used to measure case processing time: means, medians, and box-and-whisker plots. Similarly, to measure changes over time, time lines that illustrate means, medians, and smoothed medians were used. Tables and graphs giving the statistical analysis results are provided. A total of 40 notes are included.