NCJ Number
81129
Date Published
Unknown
Length
47 pages
Annotation
Statistics are presented and analyzed to derive comparative indicators of manpower levels, governmental investment, and caseload for major components of the court systems, legal professions, and total justice systems of California, Canada, England-Wales, France, Italy, Sweden, and West Germany.
Abstract
California was studied as a proxy for the United States. The lack of readily available international statistical data on national justice systems required the use of foreign consultants to retrieve and compile information on each of the countries studied. Data were gathered for the 1960-73 period. The justice systems of each of the jurisdictions are described, including the legal profession and the nonjudicial dispute resolution machinery. A statistical overview is provided for each system. The comparative statistical analysis of the judicial systems covers judicial manpower and financing, comparative analyses of judicial expenditures, judicial caseload, judicial expenditures in relation to caseload, nonjudicial forums, the legal professions, legal aid, and public vs. private investment. Although the statistical comparisons do not conclusively resolve any policy issues, they do challenge the widespread assumption that the United States has a high rate of resource investment in its justice system in comparison to analogous nations, particularly in the areas of the courts and civil legal aid. Figures, tables, and footnotes are provided.