NCJ Number
34837
Date Published
1975
Length
35 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT TO REDUCE THE TIME A DEFENDANT SPENDS AWAITING TRIAL BY ADDING SIX VISITING JUDGES TO THE BENCH OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS TO SUPPLEMENT THE SERVICES OF THE SITTING.
Abstract
THE VISITING JUDGES WERE ASSIGNED BY THE OHIO SUPREME COURT FROM OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE WHERE CASELOADS ARE LOWER THAN THOSE IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY. THIS PROJECT ALSO PROVIDED FUNDS FOR COURTROOM SUPPORT PERSONNEL: NINE DEPUTY SHERIFFS, SIX COURT BAILIFFS, TWO SCHEDULING CLERKS, TWO SECRETARIES, ONE LAW CLERK, SIX COURT REPORTERS, AND TWO JURY BAILIFFS. THE SPECIFIC PROJECT OBJECTIVES WERE AS FOLLOWS: TERMINATE 750 CASES AND CONDUCT 500 TRIALS; REDUCE THE BACKLOG TO 950 FELONY CASES AND THE SIX-MONTH BACKLOG TO ZERO; REDUCE THE PROSECUTION COMMENCEMENT DELAY TO 270 DAYS FOR BAILED DEFENDANTS AND 90 DAYS FOR JAILED DEFENDANTS; ENSURE THAT 50 PERCENT OF THE CASES HEARD BY THE VISITING JUDGES ARE IMPACT CASES; AND TERMINATE 95 PERCENT OF ALL CASES HEARD. BASED ON PROGRAM PERFORMANCE DATA, EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROJECT MET THE MAJORITY OF ITS OBJECTIVES AND CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTRODUCING JUDICIAL MANPOWER FROM OTHER OHIO COUNTIES TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESSING OF THE HEAVY CLEVELAND/CUYAHOGA COUNTY CRIMINAL CASELOADS. THE PROJECT WAS NOT AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS, HOWEVER, SINCE THE CASE BACKLOG INCREASED BY NEARLY 50 PERCENT MAINLY DUE TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FELONY CASE FILLINGS. A SAMPLE MONTHLY PERFORMANCE STATUS REPORT FORM IS APPENDED. (THIS PROJECT WAS ONE COMPONENT OF THE PRE-TRIAL AND POST-ADJUDICATION DELAY REDUCTION OPERATING PROJECT, ONE OF THE ANTI-CRIME PROGRAMS OF THE CLEVELAND/CUYAHOGA COUNTY (OH) IMPACT CITIES PROGRAM.