NCJ Number
223794
Date Published
2008
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This report on the District of Columbia Courts presents the overall accomplishments and outreach activities for the Courts in 2007.
Abstract
Highlights of the state of the judiciary of the District of Columbia Courts for 2007 includes: (1) implementation and completion of the first 5-year Strategic Plan and release of a new Plan for 2008 to 2012; (2) the launching of several new initiatives: an early intervention program for select civil appeals cases, advances in the assistance to pro se litigants, improved access to the courthouse, a community-based drop-in center for youth under the court’s supervision, and an expansion of the community court; (3) over 1,500 cases were filed in the court of appeals and over 117,000 new cases were filed in the superior court; (4) a comprehensive revision of the court of appeals rules of procedure; (5) the courts revision of its Internal Operating Procedures; (6) implementation of the Program for Agreement and Cooperation in Contested Custody Cases (PAC); (7) caseload reorganization within the Domestic Violence Unit to enhance efficient case management and instituting an after-hours Emergency Temporary Protection Order Pilot Program; (8) implementation of a Realtime Pilot Program assisting the court in making quicker decisions by having immediate access to a record of proceedings; (9) implementation of a Mental Health Diversion Pilot Program; (10) the Social Services Division modified its intensive supervision services to more adequately address high risk and serious offending juveniles; and (11) the implementation of the courts’ first Public Access System for civil cases, permitting case docket information to be viewed on the Internet. In addition to the overall accomplishments and activities of the courts’ for 2007, this annual report includes an overview of the courts’ organizational structure.