NCJ Number
138567
Date Published
1973
Length
73 pages
Annotation
In 1973, the New York State Temporary Commission on the State Court System found that the system should be administered more strongly, structured more effectively, and financed fully by the State.
Abstract
In this final report, the Commission laid out 180 recommendations, divided into five major studies on (1) administering the court system; (2) financing the court system; (3) structuring the court system; (4) selecting and disciplining judges; and (5) releasing, detaining, and indicting criminal defendants. The Commission found that administrative responsibility is fragmented, civil and criminal case backlogs are too large, there is excessive plea bargaining in criminal cases, judges and other court personnel are allocated unevenly, and coordination with court-related agencies is ineffective. Other problems found by the Commission focused on (1) the lack of a uniform budget for the entire State court system, (2) the inadequacy of court facilities, (3) the cumbersome procedures for disciplining judges, (4) the discriminating nature of the bail system, and (5) the lengthy indictment process. This volume of the final report contains a summary of the recommendations and the Commission's studies on court administration and financing.