NCJ Number
68720
Date Published
1977
Length
358 pages
Annotation
THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DENVER COUNTY COURT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (COLORADO) ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
DENVER HAS THE LARGEST COUNTY COURT SYSTEM IN THE STATE, CONSISTING OF 15 JUDGES AND 135 CLERICAL AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL. THE COURT'S FIVE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS INCLUDE THE TRAFFIC DIVISION, GENERAL SESSIONS DIVISION, CRIMINAL DIVISION, PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND CIVIL DIVISION. IN 1974, LEAA PROVIDED FUNDS WHICH WERE MATCHED BY THE CITY TO INITIATE A PROJECT FOCUSING ON COURT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT. DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT WAS TO BE IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE WAS AN ANALYSIS OF COURT PROCESSING PROCEDURES AND THE SETTING OF DESIGN OBJECTIVES AND CONCEPTUAL DESIGN. THE SECOND PHASE WAS TO PRODUCE THE COMPUTER PROGRAMS, DESIGN THE FORMS, ORIENT EMPLOYEES, AND SELECT AND INSTALL THE NECESSARY HARDWARE FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF OBJECTIVES. THE CRIMINAL DIVISION WAS GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY DURING THE SECOND PHASE. THE MAJOR THRUST OF THE PROJECT WAS TO MAKE DATA PROCESSING AN ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT TOOL TO EXPEDITE THE HIGH VOLUME CASE PROCESSING OBLIGATIONS OF THE COURTS. ALL MANUAL PRACTICES OF THE COURT WERE ANALYZED, ADOPTED, MODIFIED, OR REJECTED IN THE DESIGN OF THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM. THE FIRST PHASE WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL AND VARIOUS JUDGES. TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS EVOLVED DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. ONE INVOLVED DELAYS IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF MANPOWER AND THE OTHER INVOLVED RAPIDLY DETERIORATING TERMINAL RESPONSE TIME AS ADDITIONAL COURTS AND TERMINALS WERE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM. TO DATE, ONLY THE CRIMINAL DIVISION MODULE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND MADE OPERATIONAL. COUNTY COURT PERSONNEL ARE SATISFIED WITH THE MODULE'S PERFORMANCE AND WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO RETURN TO PREIMPLEMENTATION STATUS. THE SECOND MODULE, THE CIVIL DIVISION, IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF INTRODUCTION. EXTENSIVE EXHIBITS, AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED, AND AN APPENDIX PRESENTS THE SYSTEMS EVALUATION REPORT, COURT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY CALENDARS, AND RELATED INFORMATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)