NCJ Number
82085
Date Published
1981
Length
92 pages
Annotation
This guide outlines a court management process for implementing jury system improvements. It accompanies the Methodology Manual for Jury Systems, which defines basic elements of jury management and delineates performance standards.
Abstract
The action plan comprises five procedural steps. In step one, a court manager makes a general diagnosis of the jury system, using the guestionnaire provided. Then the manager analyzes the existing jury system's priorities and objectives. This provides a format for comparing system performance with recommended national standards. The second step introduces a 'walk the track' technique for documenting system operations and proposed changes in detail to plan for major system changes. The guide gives tips for communicating system changes to staff and for preparing a succinct statement of major procedural changes. Gathering data on jury system costs is the third step, to justify current expenditures and budget for improvements. The manual provides a worksheet for itemizing costs and guidelines for identifying system start-up costs. In the fourth step, a formal written proposal is developed for the judge's approval. The proposal should contain a statement of objectives, anticipated benefits, major procedural changes, and system costs. The final step concerns internal control and management of the project, requiring timetables and a responsibilities chart. Five references, tabular data, checklists, and other planning aids are supplied. The appendix contains sample documentation comparing the existing and proposed systems and illustrations of cost summaries. For the methodology manual, see NCJ 76512.