NCJ Number
113232
Journal
State Court Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1988) Pages: 13-18
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes how the Tucson City Court (Arizona) significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of its operation over 4 years through reforms in organization, records management, public services, calendaring, technology, human resources, and funding.
Abstract
From 1984 into 1988, the Tucson City Court moved from chaos to excellence. The court, which was formerly under one office supervisor, was reorganized into three operating divisions -- court service, public services, and case management -- and an administrative support branch. Records management was improved by assigning first priority to the case processing teams, thus prompting quick returns to the records library. Loose paperwork was eliminated by housing it under the appropriate file number until the case file returned. A central clearing desk was established for all case files in process. Public services have been improved through increased staffing, including the hiring of a trained public information specialist to answer phones full-time. The calendar has been reformatted for better readability and maintenance, and technology has been upgraded through a new case-tracking and management system. Some improvements in the management of human resources include 'no-fault' management, training, and decentralized procedures and training manuals for each section. Increased funding has helped to upgrade computer software and increase staffing.