NCJ Number
43113
Date Published
1977
Length
139 pages
Annotation
REVISION OF THE CASELOAD REPORT SYSTEM IS REVIEWED, INCLUDING BACKGROUND ANALYSIS, DESIGN OF AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM, AND OPERATIONAL DETAILS. COPIES OF ALL FORMS USED ARE INCLUDED.
Abstract
IN 1976, THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA ASKED THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS TO REVIEW CASE PROCESSING IN THE CIRCUIT COURTS, TO DEFINE WHAT CONSTITUTES A 'CASE' FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES, AND TO DESIGN AN AUTOMATED CASELOAD AND WORKLOAD SYSTEM. THE NEW SYSTEM HAD TO IMPROVE ANALYSIS OF JUDICIAL NEEDS AND CIRCUIT BOUNDARIES, YET BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE PREVIOUS REPORTING SYSTEM. DURING THE BACKGROUND PHASE, QUESTIONNAIRES WERE COMPLETED BY 68 PERCENT OF JUDGES AND 70 PERCENT OF CLERKS ON COURT OPERATION AND PROBLEMS OF THE CURRENT REPORTING SYSTEM. FIELD VISITS WERE THEN CONDUCTED. THE FINAL SYSTEM IS BASED ON SUMMARY REPORTING COMBINED WITH WEIGHTED AVERAGES OBTAINED THROUGH AN INTENSIVELY OBSERVED SAMPLE PERIOD. BOTH JUDGES AND CLERKS OBJECTED STRONGLY TO CASE-BY-CASE REPORTING. ALSO, IT WAS FELT THAT SELF-TIMEKEEPING BY JUDGES WOULD BECOME UNRELIABLE OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS. DURING THE SAMPLE OBSERVATION PERIOD, TIME IN CHAMBERS AS WELL AS BENCH TIME IS RECORDED. FORMS WERE KEPT SIMILAR TO THE ONES THEN IN USE AND THE CASE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WAS KEPT SIMPLE. THE FINAL SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. SAMPLES OF ALL FORMS ARE GIVEN. APPENDIXES GIVE QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES BY JUDGES AND CLERKS, LISTS OF REPORTS PREPARED FOR FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AGENCIES, DEFINITIONS USED ON REPORTING FORMS, AND AN ACTIVITY REPORTING LIST.