NCJ Number
81429
Journal
State Court Journal Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1982) Pages: 4-8,32-37
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the system of criminal caseflow management implemented in 1975 by the Superior Court of Delaware.
Abstract
Prior to 1975, the attorney general controlled the court's daily calendar. A criminal case often would not come to trial until 12 to 15 months after the defendants' arrest. After cases had been scheduled, mutual requests for continuances were granted as a matter of course. The principles that guided the early stages of the caseflow management experiment were (1) the necessity of a firm administrative order establishing standard time guidelines; (2) the need for the court to control the caseload calendar; (3) the critical importance of substantial communication and active participation by all criminal justice entities; and (4) the requirement that a separate professional group be assigned the tasks of scheduling cases, compiling and analyzing statistics, and recommending changes. This group, the Case Scheduling Office, was also required to handle continuance requests and collect reliable statistics. Successful changes introduced after the system was implemented were early assignment of prosecutors and defenders to cases, written plea agreements, and special handling of certain cases. The basic mechanics of the system and program results are delineated. For example, the New Castle County Superior Court's dispositions exceeded filings during 1980; this volume of work (5,593 cases) was effectively completed by 6 judges. Notes, sample forms, and tables are provided.