NCJ Number
58595
Date Published
1979
Length
39 pages
Annotation
QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE ISSUES OF WHO USES THE COURTS AND WHO SUPPORTS COURT REFORM ARE EXAMINED THROUGH ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED DURING A RECENT NATIONAL REVIEW.
Abstract
DATA WERE DERIVED FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY OF THE GENERAL AMERICAN POPULATION. THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED FOR THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS, WAS DESIGNED TO COLLECT INFORMATION CONCERNING PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF, ATTITUDES TOWARD, AND EXPERIENCE WITH COURTS OF ALL TYPES. THE SURVEY WAS ADMINISTERED BY PERSONAL INTERVIEWS DURING OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER OF 1977 TO A RANDOM WEIGHTED SAMPLE OF 1,931 ADULT MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC INCLUDING A SUPPLEMENTARY SAMPLE OF 400 RESPONDENTS FROM 6 SELECTED STATES. THE ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC OFFERS SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT FOR A NUMBER OF COURT-RELATED INNOVATIONS AND REFORMS. FURTHERMORE, LEVELS OF SUPPORT FOR REFORMS WERE GENERALLY AFFECTED LITTLE BY THE RESPONDENTS' RACE, INCOME, SEX, EDUCATION, OCCUPATIONAL AND MARITAL STATUS, AND DEGREE OF URBANIZATION. FAVORABLY SUPPORTED REFORMS INCLUDED: (1) HOTLINES FOR HELPING CITIZENS WITH LEGAL PROBLEMS; (2) COMMITTEES TO REVIEW JUDGE PERFORMANCE AND TO SCREEN POTENTIAL JUDICIAL CANDIDATES; AND (3) COURTS IN OPERATION AT NIGHTS AND ON WEEK-ENDS IN ADDITION TO REGULAR COURT HOURS. IN CONTRAST, THE PUBLIC VIEWED PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE PERFORMANCE OF COURTS AS RELATIVELY MORE SERIOUS. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDED LONG DELAYS TO TRIAL, COURT EXPENSES, COURTS GRANTING BAIL TO INDIVIDUALS PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF CRIMES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE COURTS TO DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF CRIME. RACIAL MINORITIES ALSO PERCEIVED PROBLEMS RELATING TO FAIRNESS OF COURTS, SUCH AS BIASES, UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF RICH AND POOR, AND INFLEXIBILITY OF JUDGES. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT FURTHER DETAILED STUDY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES REGARDING THE COURTS, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO MINORITY PERCEPTIONS, IS NECESSARY. FOOTNOTES AND TABULAR STATISTICAL DATA ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)