NCJ Number
40194
Date Published
1975
Length
19 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF A PHILADELPHIA COURT PROJECT WHICH PROVIDES MICROFILMING SERVICES FOR CIVIL AND CRIMINAL RECORDS OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, PRETRIAL SERVICES, THE MUNICIPAL COURT, AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.
Abstract
THE PURPOSES OF THE MICROFILMING PROJECT ARE TO RECLAIM FLOOR SPACE FOR NEEDED ACTIVITIES, TO PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, TO DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF RECORDS TO ASSOCIATED AGENCIES WHEN NEEDED, AND TO INCREASE DOCUMENT SECURITY THROUGH THE CREATION OF DUPLICATE RECORDS AND STORAGE OF MICROFILMED DATA. THE EVALUATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY ON-SITE VISITS, INTERVIEWS WITH PROJECT PERSONNEL, AND INTERVIEWS WITH USERS OF THE MICROFILMED DATA. THE EVALUATION SHOWED THAT THE PROJECT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING ITS OBJECTIVES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROJECT IS FULFILLING A VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT 1) RECORDS REPLACED BY MICROFILMED DATA BE DESTROYED, 2) PRECEDENTS IN THE USE OF MICROFILMED DATA IN THE COURTS BE ESTABLISHED, AND 3) THAT GUIDELINES FOR THE PROJECTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS BE ESTABLISHED....DMC