NCJ Number
65236
Date Published
1980
Length
64 pages
Annotation
A SYNTHESIS OF THE SECOND NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE JUDICIARY PROCEEDINGS IS PRESENTED; ASSESSMENT OF THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS WITH THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES AND ALTERATION OF COURT OPERATIONS ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE 1978 CONFERENCE WAS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS. DISCUSSION FOCUSED ON THE RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY COMMISSIONED TO LEARN HOW THE PUBLIC FEELS ABOUT STATE AND LOCAL COURTS AND ON A TASK FORCE REPORT CONCERNING THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF THE COURTS. IT WAS AGREED THAT COURTS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE, UNDERSTANDABLE, AND EFFICIENT. VARIOUS POLICY OPTIONS WERE DISCUSSED AS MEANS OF ACHIEVING THESE GOALS. THERE ARE THREE GENERAL APPROACHES TO ACCESS PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE USED. FIRST, THE PROPER FORUM FOR THE RESOLUTION OF VARIOUS KINDS OF DISPUTES MAY BE PROVIDED. SECOND, ACCESS TO COURTS AT AN AFFORDABLE COST MAY BE ESTABLISHED. THIRD, THE BARRIERS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE COURTS MAY BE MINIMIZED. MAKING THE COURTS UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE PUBLIC WAS SEEN AS REQUIRING BOTH KNOWLEDGE AND A SENSE OF PARTICIPATION. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COURTS CAN BE IMPROVED BY ACTIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS AND BY DEMYSTIFYING LEGAL PROCEDURES AND LANGUAGE. THE SENSE OF PARTICIPATION IS MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE; REPRESENTATIVES OF CITIZENS' GROUPS AND THE PRESS URGED THE COURTS TO BE MORE RECEPTIVE IN DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC. ACHIEVING EFFICIENCY IN THE DELIVERY OF JUDICIAL SERVICES IS DEPENDENT ON MANY ORGANIZATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE COURT UNIFICATION, CENTRALIZED BUDGETING, COORDINATED MANAGEMENT, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICES, STANDARDIZED RECORDKEEPING, AND COURT CONTROL OF CASEFLOW. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PAMPHLET. (LWM)