NCJ Number
91951
Date Published
1983
Length
127 pages
Annotation
Administrative judges and other individuals interested in court operations discussed court calendar control problems in Philadelphia and New York City in 2 days of hearings before a Senate subcommittee.
Abstract
The administrator of Philadelphia's court of common pleas described that city's judicial system and its major problems, notably budgetary restraints, increased caseloads, an increased demand for jury trials, inadequate court facilities, and a limited defense bar. He also reviewed actions taken to resolve these difficulties, such as an arbitration center, a new continuance rule, constructing two courtrooms, and computerizing docketing procedures. The administrative judge for Philadelphia's family court highlighted efforts to speed the listing of juvenile delinquency cases, its new screening procedures to cope with increasing caseloads, and manpower shortages. Other topics covered included the lack of appropriate facilities for serious juvenile offenders and truancy. The administrator for Philadelphia's asbestos litigation calendar addressed calendar control from the civil perspective, with attention to individual calendar control programs which make individual judges responsible for moving a batch of cases from pretrial motion to listing and trial. Philadelphia's attorney general emphasized that backlogs must not be reduced at the expense of quality prosecution, trials, and dispositions. The second day of hearings on New York City's enormous backlog problems began with an administrative judges's overview of the city's situation. He commented on the limited number of judges, rising trend of filing indictments, and lack of funds for needed technological improvements. Another judge described the city's felony backlog elimination program, while the criminal justice coordinator summarized measures taken by the city to reduce calendar congestion. The president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City discussed problems in securing reliable data on court operations, the collapse of the plan to lease Rikers Island to the State and build jails closer to the courts, bail jumping, repeat offenders, and management information systems. Witnesses' prepared statements are supplied.