NCJ Number
52360
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A 1977 PUBLIC SURVEY REVEALS THAT CONFIDENCE IN COURTS IS LOW. ADDRESSING JUDGES, THIS PAPER ARGUES THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ON COURTS SHOULD BE INCREASED AND THAT EDUCATION FOR JUDGES SHOULD BE INITIATED.
Abstract
THE GENERAL PUBLIC BLAMES COURTS FOR NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO OFTEN RECEIVE EARLY PAROLES, GET OUT ON BAIL, OR HAVE THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM DROPPED. THESE OPINIONS WERE COLLECTED IN A SURVEY WHICH ALSO REVEALED THAT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE OF COURTS IS VERY LOW (37 PERCENT OF A SAMPLE OF 1,913 PERSONS BELIEVED THAT IT IS THE DEFENDANTS' TASKS TO PROVE THEMSELVES INNOCENT). IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SCHOOLS PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON COURTS IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT CLASSES AND THAT MEDIA ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ON COURTS. HOWEVER, IT IS STRESSED THAT SOME PART OF PUBLIC IGNORANCE OF COURTS IS THE FAULT OF JUDGES WHO WILL NOT TALK TO MEDIA AND WILL NOT ALLOW CAMERAS IN COURTROOMS. BETTER USE SHOULD BE MADE OF JUROR'S TIME WHEN THEY ARE ON DUTY. THEY COULD VIEW FILMS ON JURY SELECTION AND COURT PROCEDURES, AND THESE PERSONS COULD BE VALUABLE IN PASSING ON INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. JUDGES SHOULD ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT SOME OF THE PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION IS THE FAULT OF THEIR ISOLATIONIST ATTITUDES, AND LAW SCHOOLS SHOULD INTRODUCE COURSES THAT WOULD HELP TRAIN LAWYERS TO BE JUDGES. (DAG)