NCJ Number
134820
Journal
State Court Journal Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1991) Pages: 4-12
Date Published
1991
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the trends that researchers for the National Center for State Courts' Information Service have observed in the State courts, based on their continuous monitoring of areas in which the Information Service receives requests for information.
Abstract
Trends are discussed for AIDS and the courts, alternative dispute resolution, the use of life-sustaining medical treatment, corrections and alternative sentencing, court interpreters, court-ordered mental health and drug treatment, court security, court technology, reduction of court delays, drug abuse, and facsimile machines. Other topics include commissions on the future of the courts, sex discrimination in the courts, judicial sabbaticals, judicial selection, juries, mandatory retirement of judges, racial discrimination in the courts, remote computer access to automated court records and other public records, tort reform, fines, videotaped trials, video teleconferencing, and judicial selection. The analysis emphasizes that as judges, court clerks, and court administrators become more aware of available technologies, they increasingly will use technology as a primary tool in State court management.