JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND POLICE MAGISTRATES IN SOUTH DAKOTA - REPORT OF A SURVEY

• NCJ Number: 14320
• Author(s): T C GEARY
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 82 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: South Dakota Planning and Advisory Cmssn on Crime
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF 150 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND 144 POLICE MAGISTRATES, SHOWING THE NATURE OF WORK, BACKGROUND, AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA PETTY JUDICIARY.

Abstract

THE FIRST CONCERN OF THIS STUDY WAS TO ASCERTAIN THE CURRENT NUMBER OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND POLICE MAGISTRATES AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE HOLDERS OF THESE OFFICES AS REFLECTED IN SUCH PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AS AGE, EDUCATION, AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION. IT WAS FOUND THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER WERE ELDERLY, HAD HIGH SCHOOL TRAINING OR ABOVE, HAD HELD THEIR OFFICE ONLY A SHORT TIME, AND HAD NOT ACTIVELY SOUGHT THEIR OFFICE. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE JUSTICES AND MAGISTRATES WERE REPORTED TO BE VERY POOR. TOWNSHIP JUSTICES WERE FOUND TO HAVE SMALL OR NONEXISTENT CASELOADS, WHILE COUNTY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND POLICE MAGISTRATES HAD SUBSTANTIAL CASELOADS. TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, DISTURBING THE PEACE, DRUNK AND DISORDERLY, AND FISH AND GAME VIOLATIONS WERE THE CASES HANDLED MOST OFTEN. INFORMATION ON FEES AND ON THE JUSTICES' RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OR OTHERS UPON WHOM THEY MIGHT RELY FOR AID OR BY WHOM THEY MIGHT BE INFLUENCED IN PERFORMING THEIR FUNCTIONS IS PROVIDED. SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)