MUNICIPAL COURTS SURVEY, CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE HENNEPIN COUNTY (MINNEAPOLIS) MUNICIPAL COURT

• NCJ Number: 8201
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Denver
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STRUCTURE, ADMINISTRATION, AND PERFORMANCE OF TWO COURT SYSTEMS ARE COMPARED.

Abstract

THE HENNEPIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A MORE MODERN APPROACH TO COURT MANAGEMENT THAN THE CLEVELAND COURT. THE HENNEPIN COURT SERVED THE ENTIRE COUNTY, PROVIDING IT WITH A UNIFORM STANDARD OF JUSTICE AND EFFICIENCY IN THE USE OF RESOURCES. IN CONTRAST, THE CLEVELAND COURT IS JUST ONE OF THIRTEEN MUNICIPAL COURTS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY. THE HENNEPIN COURT HAD A COURT ADMINISTRATOR TO MANAGE THE NON-JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE COURT. THESE FUNCTIONS WERE DIVIDED AMONG SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS IN CLEVELAND, RESULTING IN THE PREPARATION OF TWO BUDGETS. THE HENNEPIN COURT RELEASED MANY MORE MISDEMEANOR DEFENDANTS ON RECOGNIZANCE BEFORE TRIAL THAN CLEVELAND, AND PROVIDED MORE DEFENSE SERVICES TO INDIGENTS. THE CLEVELAND MUNICIPAL COURT HAD LONGER DELAYS IN PROCESSING FELONY CASES, AND DID NOT KEEP STATISTICS ON CASE BACKLOGS AND THE NUMBER OF GUILTY PLEAS. THIS STATISTICAL INFORMATION WAS READILY AVAILABLE IN THE HENNEPIN COURT.