NCJ Number
69533
Date Published
1979
Length
29 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE BRITISH CROWN COURT SYSTEM AND PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR CENTRAL AND REGIONAL COURT ADMINISTRATION.
Abstract
THE CROWN COURT SYSTEM MODEL TAKES AS INPUTS THE JUDICIAL RESOURCES AND THE TOTAL WORKLOAD ANTICIPATED OVER A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME, AND USING A SET OF ALLOCATION RULES PRODUCES AS OUTPUTS THE JUDICIAL RESOURCES USED, THE WAITING TIMES BEFORE CASES ARE HEARD, THE DISPOSAL RATES, AND THE WAITING LIST OF CASES AT THE END OF THE PERIOD. THE MODEL IS DESIGNED TO INCLUDE ONLY THOSE CASES COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (WHICH REPRESENT ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE CROWN COURT WORKLOAD). THESE COMMITTALS FOR TRIAL ARE THEN CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO PLEA TYPE (GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY) WHILE THE USUAL CROWN COURT CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENSES DIVIDES THE WORKLOAD INTO FOUR CLASSES OF CASE. THE MODEL REQUIRES A SET OF RULES TO GOVERN HOW THE JUDGES' TIME IS ALLOCATED BETWEEN THE VARIOUS CLASSES OF CASE AND PLEA TYPES. IN ITS PRESENT FORM, THE MODEL, A SIMPLE DETERMINISTIC MODEL USING AGGREGATE DATA, IS DESIGNED TO HELP IN MEDIUM AND LONG TERM PLANNING RATHER THAN ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. PRODUCING COMPARATIVE OUTPUT DATA RATHER THAN PREDICTIONS, THE MODEL'S MAIN STRENGTH IS IN PROVIDING RAPID QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION ON THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM, THUS GIVING A MEANS FOR OBJECTIVE COMPARISON BETWEEN ALTERNATIVE POLICIES. THE MODEL'S MAIN LIMITATION IS ITS DEPENDENCE ON THE FIGURES USED FOR THE ALLOCATION OF THE JUDGES' TIME AND THAT IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE EXPECTED CHANGE IN THE ALLOCATION FIGURES. METHODS OF REDUCING THE EFFECT OF THIS LIMITATION INCLUDE USING A LESS DETAILED MODEL WITH A SINGLE CATEGORY OF JUDGE, AND PERHAPS, FEWER CLASSES OF CASES. SEVEN REFERENCES, THE COMPUTER PROGRAM, DIAGRAMS, TABLES, DETAILS OF SIX SAMPLE RUNS OF THE MODEL, PERCENTAGE FIGURES USED, AND STUDY INSTRUMENTS ARE APPENDED.