PULASKI COUNTY (LITTLE ROCK), ARKANSAS - REVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT NEEDS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT - CASEFLOW AND STATISTICAL SYSTEMS

• NCJ Number: 65501
• Author(s): E H SHORT; C F DOOLITTLE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 67 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-011-78
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; American University
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A REVIEW OF NEEDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IS PRESENTED FOR THE IMPROVED ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF PULASKI COUNTY, ARKANSAS.

Abstract

PERFORMED BY THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY LAW INSTITUTE'S CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT, THE ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONS AND WORKFLOW IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE COVERED PERSONNEL ORGANIZATION, RECORDS SYSTEMS FOR COURT CASES, AND SELECTED PROBLEMS OF CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT. CRIMINAL COURT CLERKS ASSIGNED TO A JUDGE WERE FOUND TO BE UNDER THE HEAVIEST PRESSURE; THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN COURT WHEN THE JUDGE IS ON THE BENCH IN ADDITION TO CLERICAL DUTIES, SUCH AS PREPARATION OF THE PLEA AND ARRAIGNMENT CALENDAR, ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS FOR ARREST, AND OTHER EXECUTIONS OF COURT ACTIONS. THE MOST PRESSING RECORDS PROBLEM FOUND CONCERNED THE CRIMINAL DOCKET, WHICH PRESENTLY CONSISTS OF A DOCKET SHEET AND A CASE INDEX, WITHOUT BEING COMBINED IN A SINGLE FILE CONTAINING CASE HEADING AND HISTORY OF EVENTS INFORMATION. THE CURRENT BACKLOG OF CASES WAS FOUND TO BE GREAT AND INCREASING IN VOLUME, WITH THE COURT PRESENTLY SETTING CIVIL JURY TRIALS 2 YEARS HENCE. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE RAISING THE SALARY SCALES OF THE COURT CLERK'S OFFICE PERSONNEL, AND COORDINATING THE COURTROOM ATTENDANCE OF CRIMINAL COURTROOM CLERKS AND CASE COORDINATORS TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORT. THE FORMER SHOULD PERFORM RECORDKEEPING FUNCTIONS WHILE THE LATTER WORK ON SCHEDULING AND NOTIFICATION. IN ADDITION, RECORDS FORMS AND PROCEDURES SHOULD BE STANDARDIZED WITHIN AN EFFICIENT, NONDUPLICATING RECORDS SYSTEM. THIS WILL NOT ONLY RELIEVE THE WORKLOAD OF CLERKS, BUT FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF CASES. MOREOVER, THE OFFICE WILL BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE EVENTUAL AUTOMATION OF ITS RECORDS OPERATIONS. FOLLOWUP OF THE MANUAL RECORDS STANDARDIZATION WAS COMPLETED 4 MONTHS AFTER THE INITIAL STUDY; PROGRESS WAS FOUND AND POTENTIALS OUTLINED FOR USES OF AVAILABLE COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION SYSTEMS. APPENDIXES INCLUDE A BUDGET, SAMPLE RECORDS FORMS, CORRESPONDENCE, TABULAR DATA, AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION. (MRK)