STUDY OF POTENTIAL COMPUTER APPLICATION AND STATISTICAL REPORTING NEEDS IN THE SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA MUNICIPAL COURT - CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 46013
• Author(s): M D GEIGER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 40 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-013-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; American University
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE NECESSITY AND PROJECTED COSTS OF AUTOMATION ARE CONSIDERED, TOGETHER WITH AVAILABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM OPTIONS AND MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS. RECORDS RETENTION AND KEY STATISTICAL INFORMATION ARE ALSO STUDIED.

Abstract

THE SCOTTSDALE MUNICIPAL COURT HAS EXPERIENCED A DRAMATIC GROWTH IN ITS CASELOAD, ATTENDANT WITH A POPULATION INCREASE, WITHOUT ANY CONCOMITANT MODIFICATION OR REFINEMENT IN OPERATING PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES OF THE COURT. SOME SORT OF COMPUTER APPLICATION IS RECOMMENDED, WITH 'BATCH' PROCESSING FOR INVENTORY ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE COURT AND 'ON-LINE' CAPABILITY FOR CASE MANAGEMENT. TYING INTO THE PHOENIX CITY COURT COMPUTER SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED THE MOST ECONOMICAL APPROACH. CONSIDERABLE TIGHTENING AND UPGRADING OF THE PRESENT DATA-GATHERING PROCEDURES ARE BELIEVED NECESSARY BEFORE AUTOMATION CAN BE IMPLEMENTED. THE EXISTING CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS VIEWED AS REASONABLY EFFICIENT, WHILE THE STATISTICAL REPORTING SYSTEM IS JUDGED NEARLY USELESS BECAUSE THE COURT HAS NO HARD INVENTORY DATA. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE COURT ESTABLISH A DOCKET LISTING AND A CROSS REFERENCE INDEX, SHOWING THE NAME OF THE DEFENDANT, THE DATE OF THE FILING, AND THE DOCKET NUMBER. IN REGARD TO THE STATISTICAL REPORTING SYSTEM REQUIRED BY THE STATE COURT SYSTEM, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS COULD SERVE AS A SOUND BASIS FOR THE COURT'S INTERNAL REPORTS IF TWO ADDITIONS ARE MADE RELATIVE TO DISTINGUISHING CASES WHERE THE DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO A DIFFERENT CHARGE FROM CASES WHICH ARE DISMISSED, ESTABLISHING AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME PERIOD FOR THE AGE OF PENDING CASES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CASES PENDING OVER 75 DAYS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE MEASURES. IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT A CHIEF CLERK BE HIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE FORMS FOR A WEEKLY STATUS REPORT, ARRAIGNMENT DATE SCHEDULE, BOND SCHEDULE, TRIAL NOTICE, FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL, MISDEMEANOR WARRANT, TRIAL DATE CHANGE LETTER, COURT CALENDAR SCHEDULE, AND STATE COURT SYSTEM STATISTICAL REPORTING, STATE COURT SYSTEM REPORTING FROM INSTRUCTIONS, AND A PROPOSED DOCKET SHEET. (RCB)