PLANNING IN STATE COURTS - A SURVEY OF THE STATE OF THE ART

• NCJ Number: 38433
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 67 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-TA-99-0024
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts
• Sale Source: National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A MONOGRAPH WHICH EXAMINES THE NEW PLANNING INITIATIVE IN STATE COURTS BY DESCRIBING BASIC ELEMENTS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, REVIEWING PREVIOUS COURT PLANNING EXPERIENCES, AND SUGGESTING FACTORS INDICATIVE OF EFFECTIVE PLANNING.

Abstract

FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SUCH AS POPULAR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DELIVERY OF JUSTICE AND THE SHRINKING AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES, COURTS HAVE RECENTLY TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO PLANNING THAT FOCUSES UPON BASIC AND SIMPLE SYSTEMWIDE GOALS. SYSTEMATIC AND ORGANIZED COURT PLANNING REPRESENTS AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE GAP BETWEEN PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE THAT SOMETIMES CHARACTERIZES PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, BY HELPING THE COURTS TO SET GOALS, UTILIZE AVAILABLE RESOURCES, CLARIFY PROBLEM AREAS, DEVISE PROGRAMS, AND MONITOR THEIR EFFECTIVENESS. THIS MONOGRAPH ASSESSES THE STATE OF THE ART IN COURT PLANNING AT AN EARLY STAGE OF THIS MAJOR NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE WHEN STATES ARE JUST BEGINNING TO ADDRESS THESE PLANNING ISSUES AND WHEN THERE IS LITTLE CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COURT PLANNING. THIS MONOGRAPH IS THE INITIAL PUBLICATION OF THE STATE COURT PLANNING CAPABILITIES PROJECT OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS. IT IS NOT A 'HOW-TO' MANUAL FOR COURT PLANNERS; INSTEAD, IT EMPHASIZES CONCEPTUAL CONCERNS THAT MUST UNDERLIE THE PLANNING CAPABILITIES PROJECT'S DAILY AND OPERATIONAL WORK WITH STATE COURT SYSTEMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR PLANNING CAPABILITIES. THE PROJECT IS FUNDED BY LEAA, AND SIX STATE COURT SYSTEMS HAVE AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH THE PROJECT AS PILOT STATES. THE MONOGRAPH BEGINS WITH A DESCRIPTION OF SOME BASIC ELEMENTS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, SUCH AS DETERMINATION OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, IDENTIFICATION OF RESOURCES, AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE. VARIOUS COURT PLANNING EXPERIENCES INVOLVING JUDICIAL LEADERSHIP, THE ENTIRE STATE JUDICIARY, JUDICIAL COUNCILS, AND LOCAL PLANNING UNITS ARE REVIEWED. FINALLY, THE MONOGRAPH CONSIDERS CERTAIN INDICATORS THAT PRESENTLY APPEAR TO SUGGEST EFFECTIVE STATE COURT PLANNING. THEY INCLUDE PROCEDURAL INDICATORS, SUCH AS A WRITTEN PLAN AND A PLANNING STAFF, AND SEVERAL SUBSTANTIVE INDICATORS, SUCH AS EXPEDITIOUS AND QUALITY JUDICIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)...DMC