NCJ Number
82732
Date Published
1981
Length
34 pages
Annotation
The summary highlights the activities of Kansas courts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1981, emphasizing caseload disposition.
Abstract
The courts consist of the State supreme court, the court of appeals, and the district courts. In addition, municipal courts exist in most jurisdictions. Analysis of case filings and dispositions for Class A, B, and C felonies revealed that 20.3 percent more cases were filed and that the conviction rate increased from 54.8 percent in 1980 to 58.9 percent in fiscal 1981. A total of 1,970 such cases were filed in 1980, compared to 2,370 filed in 1981. The total filings for all felony cases increased 10.8 percent in 1981, from 10,944 to 12,121. Despite the increase, judges were able to dispose of 14.7 percent more felony cases and in a shorter period of time. Filings for misdemeanors decreased slightly since the last fiscal year, to 13,967 filings. Although filings for all civil actions increased by more than 3,000 cases during fiscal 1981, judges reduced the number of pending cases from 35,332 to 35,314. More Kansas drivers were charged with serious traffic offenses during fiscal 1981, but fewer defendants took their cases to jury trial. Although fewer juveniles were charged with delinquency during the year, more were committed to institutions. Of those adjudicated delinquent, 306 were committed to juvenile facilities compared with 260 commitments in 1980. Domestic relations cases ranging from child support actions to divorces and annulments totaled 27,869 for the year, compared with 25,856 such cases in 1980. At year end, 937 cases were pending before the State supreme court and the court of appeals. An appendix presenting personnel data, photographs, and several graphs are provided.