NCJ Number
55118
Date Published
1978
Length
188 pages
Annotation
A FRAMEWORK IS PROVIDED FOR ASSESSING COURT-RELATED COMPUTER NEEDS, PLANNING A MANAGEMENT-RELEVANT SYSTEM, AND IMPLEMENTING AND MAINTAINING A FUNCTIONING SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP FURTHER THE AIMS OF THE JUDICIARY.
Abstract
THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE COMPUTER REVOLUTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF THE COURTS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO THE ALTERNATIVE PATHS AVAILABLE TO ADMINISTRATORS INTERESTED IN IMPLEMENTING A COMPUTER-BASED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. FOLLOWING AN OVERVIEW OF THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO DEVLOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE NECESSARY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PACKAGES IS OUTLINED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE FOLLOWING: (1) FEASIBILITY DETERMINATIONS, EVALUATIONS OF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, AND COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES; (2) ASSESSING THE POLITICAL AND PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS (E.G., PROBLEMS OF USING CENTRAL COMPUTER FACILITIES, INTERAGENCY CONTRACTS, JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE, PRIVACY AND SECURITY OF DATA); (3) DESIGNING THE SYSTEM (INCLUDING POLICY AND GOAL DETERMINATIONS AND ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS); (4) SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE CONCERNS, SUCH AS LEVELS OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, CHOICE OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, AND SELECTION OF MINI-, MAXI-, AND MICROCOMPUTERS; (5) PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WRITING VENDOR CONTRACTS; (6) PROBLEM AREAS IN IMPLEMENTATION, INCLUDING STAFF AND MANAGEMENT, PRODUCT EVALUATION, AND SITE PREPARATION; (7) THE NEED FOR CONTINUOUS EVALUATION OF THE ONGOING SYSTEM; (8) FUNDING THE PROJECT THROUGH LEAA, STATE, LOCAL, AND OTHER REVENUE SOURCES; AND (9) THE FEASIBILITY, PRACTICALITY, AND POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF A CONSOLIDATED STATEWIDE JUDICIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM. A GLOSSARY, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND LIST OF CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS IN THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AREA ARE APPENDED.