KENTUCKY MODEL CIRCUIT COURTS PROJECT - A CONCEPTUAL EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 19949
• Author(s): T E BAYNES; F J TAILLERFER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 51 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: American University
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROGRESS REPORT ON THIS PILOT PROJECT TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT MULTI-METHOD APPROACHES TO BRINGING ABOUT THE MAXIMIZATION OF COURT EFFICIENCY ALONG WITH SUGGESTIONS ON FUNCTIONAL GUIDELINES, METHODOLOGY, AND OBJECTIVES.

Abstract

FIVE CIRCUIT COURTS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT - FOUR ONE-JUDGE MULTI-COUNTY CIRCUITS, AND ONE MULTI-JUDGE, SINGLE COUNTY CIRCUIT. COURT ADMINISTRATORS WERE HIRED FOR EACH CIRCUITS. FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR EQUIPMENT, AND A SERIES OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ESTABLISHED, INCLUDING UNIFORM RULES AND REPORTING, USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND MODERN COURT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, AND EMPLOYING ONLY 60 DAYS FROM ARREST TO TRIAL. THE CURRENT OPERATION OF THE MODEL IS DESCRIBED. EVALUATORS SUGGEST THAT THE MODEL PROJECT HAS NOT FULFILLED ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, ALTHOUGH IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO THE PROMOTION OF EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE PARTICIPATING COURTS. TWO MAJOR ADMINISTRATIVE IMPEDIMENTS TO THE MODEL'S ACHIEVING MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY INCLUDED A CONTINUAL STAFF TURNOVER AND INSUFFICIENT STAFF TO MINITOR AND ADMINISTER MODEL PROGRAMS. SOME 29 RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE INCLUDING ORGANIZING THE PROJECT INTO TWO OPERATING DIVISIONS AND A RESEARCH DIVISION, AND ENLARGING THE PROJECT TO TEN JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.