PENNSYLVANIA - EVALUATION OF THE INSTITUTE ON COURTS OF INITIAL JURISDICTION - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 15648
• Author(s): P J LIACOURAS; J A STRAZZELLA; S S HAZENSKI; S W WECKESSER
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 87 pages
• Grant Number(s): DS-346-73
• Sponsoring Agency: Pennsylvania Governor's Justice Cmssn
• Corporate Author: Temple University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROGRAM TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF DISTRICT JUSTICES BY OFFERING LECTURES AND CLASSES IN A UNIVERSITY ATMOSPHERE COVERING SUBSTANTIVE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW, TRIAL AND HEARING TECHNIQUES, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.

Abstract

THE PROBELMS WHICH THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE ARE THE LIMITED TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, AND LACK OF COMMON APPROACHES OF THE JUSTICES, THEIR LACK OF FORMAL LEGAL EDUCATION, AND THE UNEVEN DATES OF THE JUSTICES APPOINTMENTS WHICH MAKES INITIAL TRAINING DIFFICULT. THE EVALUATION WAS BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, ON-SITE OBSERVATION, AND THE RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE EVALUATION CONCLUDED THAT THE PROGRAM HAS RAISED THE OVERALL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE DISTRICT JUSTICES, BUT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MODIFYING THE PROGRAM'S EDUCATIONAL METHODS. INCLUDED ARE COPIES OF THE QUESTIONNAIRES SUBMITTED TO PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS A STATISTICAL COMPILATION OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ABOUT THE JUSTICES.