This document provides guidelines for actions to promote equality and fairness in the courts.
While minorities are overrepresented in the U.S. justice system as defendants in criminal cases and as inmates in jails and prisons, they are underrepresented as judges, judicial appointees, and employees. This guide attempts to improve access to justice for persons of color by presenting suggested actions in the following categories: (1) Overview (managing diversity, equal employment policy, affirmative action, Americans With Disabilities Act, employee complaint and grievance procedures, task forces and commissions on racial and ethnic bias in the courts); (2) Getting Started (establishing a planning committee, building support); (3) Assessing the Diversity-training Needs of a Court (data collection methods); (4) Working With Diversity Consultants (competencies for diversity consultants); (5) Designing the Program (training goals and format); and (6) Evaluating the Program (formulating questions and designing forms, planning organizational strategies). Tables, notes, appendixes