CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS SYSTEMS IN PHILADELPHIA

• NCJ Number: 43251
• Author(s): L P POLANSKY; J M WHITE
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Philadelphia Cmtte for Information on the Judicial Process
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

COMPUTERIZATION OF THE PHILADELPHIA COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED AND COMPARED TO AN IDEAL SYSTEMS APPROACH. OPERATION OF EACH SUBSYSTEM IS DETAILED.

Abstract

IN SETTING UP A COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM, FIVE SUBSYSTEMS WERE IDENTIFIED: (1) A TRIAL-STREAM, CASE-FLOW SYSTEM (INCLUDING THE CONTROL OF FACILITIES AND RESOURCES); (2) A 'PEOPLE SYSTEM' (INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT ATTORNEYS, BONDING COMPANIES, WITNESSES, AND JUDGES, AS WELL AS THE DEFENDANT); (3) A STATISTICAL REPORTING SYSTEM; (4) A RESEARCH AND PLANNING SYSTEM; AND (5) A STATUTE AND CASE LAW SEARCHING SYSTEM. PHILADELPHIA HAS IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST THREE SYSTEMS AND IS REFINING DATA COLLECTION METHODS SO THE LAST TWO CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE OBJECT OF THE TRIAL-STREAM SYSTEM HAS BEEN TO SET ONE TIME, DATE, AND COURTROOM FOR EACH LEGALLY REQUIRED ACTION OF A CASE, AND TO ASSURE THAT ALL MATERIALS AND PERSONS ESSENTIAL WILL BE PRESENT SO THAT EACH PORTION OF A CASE WILL BE DEALT WITH AND DECIDED FAIRLY AT THAT TIME. BY ELIMINATING DUPLICATE HEARINGS, THIS SYSTEM HAS ALSO MAXIMIZED USE OF LIMITED PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES. IF AN ARRAIGNMENT OR TRIAL IS NOT SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED, THE SYSTEM IS PROGRAMMED TO BRING ALL CASES PAST THE 'ACTION DATE' TO THE ATTENTION OF COURT PERSONNEL. THIS SYSTEM ALSO HELPS TO KEEP TRACK OF PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS, PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS, AND OTHER ACTIONS. IN THE PERSONNEL SYSTEM, VARIOUS CROSS-REFERENCES KEEP TRACK OF DEFENDANTS, DEFENDANTS BEING HANDLED BY ONE ATTORNEY, WITNESSES BEING CALLED, AND OTHER MATTERS. THIS SYSTEM HAS ALREADY PROVED USEFUL IN IDENTIFYING THE SAME DEFENDANT IN SEVERAL ACTIONS, APPARENTLY USING DIFFERENT NAMES. THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN AN OUTGROWTH OF THE FIRST TWO. AT PRESENT, IBM'S GENERAL PURPOSE SIMULATION SYSTEM IS BEING STUDIED TO SEE IF IT CAN BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DATA BASE FOR RESEARCH AND PLANNING. VARIOUS REPORTS GENERATED BY THE COMPUTER ARE APPENDED.