NCJ Number
147185
Date Published
August 1994
Length
43 pages
Annotation
The Bureau of Justice Assistance sponsored a research inquiry into the establishment of extra-hours courts for special purposes, and specifically, the establishment of drug night courts, focusing on the drug night court in Cook County, Illinois.
Abstract
Because of their rapidly increasing drug-related caseload, the Cook County courts opened, in October 1989, five drug night courts. The evening sessions were limited to narcotics cases since they rarely require civilian witnesses, can be adjudicated quickly, and can have motions disposed of efficiently. While Cook County dramatically cut processing time for drug cases, the study also found that drug sentencing because more lenient, more defendants entered pleas rather than facing trial, and more defendants were represented by public defenders, rather than by private attorneys. The courts also had problems retaining quality staff to man the evening shift and maintaining high morale and efficiency. To work effectively, specialized courts need to have workable intake controls and limits on individual workloads, have one individual take the lead in coordinating planning for the special court, and train all staff members. 31 references and 1 appendix