NCJ Number
10835
Date Published
1972
Length
55 pages
Annotation
THIS PROJECT WAS A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSES AND POSSIBLE CURES OF UNNECESSARY DELAY IN THE PROCESSING OF CRIMINAL CASES IN STATE COURTS.
Abstract
IT UTILIZED BOTH ENGINEERING AND LEGAL SKILLS TO PRODUCE A MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE INDIANA CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM AS IT OPERATES IN SOUTH BEND AND INDIANAPOLIS. THIS SIMULATION MODEL FACILITATES EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE SYSTEM WITHOUT ACTUALLY INCURRING ALL THE COSTS WHICH USUALLY MAKE SUCH EXPERIMENTATION PROHIBITIVE. ALTHOUGH THE STUDY WAS AIMED AT TWO PARTICULAR COURTS, SOME OF THE PROBLEMS RAISED AND TENTATIVELY ANSWERED AND THE SIMULATION PROGRAM ITSELF WILL APPLY, WITH MODIFICATION, TO OTHER COURT SYSTEMS. THE APPENDIX INCLUDES CODING PROCEDURES, TIME DISTRIBUTIONS, AND A SIMULATION MODEL. SEE ALSO VOLUME 1 (NCJ-10832) - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, VOLUME 2 (NCJ-10833) LEGAL ANALYSIS, AND VOLUME 3 (NCJ-10834) - ENGINEERING SECTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)