NCJ Number
161568
Date Published
July 1997
Length
174 pages
Annotation
This planning guide describes the innovative and comprehensive Trial Courts Performance Standards and Measurement System, which is a resource for helping courts provide fair and efficient adjudication and disposition of cases.
Abstract
Developing a common language for describing, classifying, and measuring the performance of trial courts was the goal of an 8-year effort, the Trial Court Performance Standards Project, begun in 1987 by the National Center for State Courts and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Trial Courts Performance Standards and Measurement System is the result of that effort. This system includes a common language for the description, classification, and communication of court activities; a conceptual framework for understanding and improving court performance; and a means for self-assessment, self-improvement, and accountability to the public. The first chapter of this planning guide describes a model for implementing the system, followed by an overview of the measures and a discussion of the key points to consider before starting the measurement process. Another chapter outlines the components of a program for educating individuals in the successful implementation of the system. Five appendixes provide additional information on the implementation of trial court performance standards. A 66-item bibliography