NCJ Number
65475
Date Published
1979
Length
39 pages
Annotation
THE BACKGROUND, PURPOSE, AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP SESSIONS OF THE 1979 CONFERENCE FOR TWO ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING COURT ADMINISTRATORS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
AT THE REQUEST AND THROUGH THE FUNDING OF LEAA, THE CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT PREPARED THE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP MATERIALS FOR THE CONFERENCES OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COURT ADMINISTRATION (NACA) AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATORS (NATCA). THE WORKSHOPS COMPRISED A TOTAL OF 9 HOURS OF THE 5-DAY CONFERENCE PROGRAM FOR EACH ORGANIZATION. TOPICS OF THE PROGRAM, TRIAL COURT FINANCIAL, PERSONNEL, AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT, WERE ADDRESSED IN THREE 3-HOUR SESSIONS. EACH WORKSHOP SESSION WAS INTRODUCED WITH A BRIEF GROUP PRESENTATION AND WAS THEN BROKEN DOWN INTO SIX SMALL WORKSHOP GROUPS ORGANIZED ON THE BASIS OF LARGE, MEDIUM, AND SMALL COURTS. THE INTRODUCTORY SESSIONS CONSISTED OF LECTURE AND VIDEOTAPE PRESENTATION FOCUSING ON KEY MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS. DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD IN SMALL GROUPS WITH WORKSHOP LEADERS PRESIDING AND SUGGESTING APPROACHES TO PROBLEMS WERE DEVELOPED. NATCA AND NACA WORKSHOP ATTENDEES HAD A BASIC DISAGREEMENT ON THE ADEQUACY OF THE BUDGET AVAILABLE TO THE HYPOTHETICAL COURT SYSTEM DESCRIBED IN THE WORKSHOP PROBLEM. MOST NATCA WORKSHOPS COULD NOT STAY WITHIN BUDGET, BUT NACA ATTENDEES HAD LITTLE DIFFICULTY IN THIS REGARD. KEY MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED INCLUDED MANAGERIAL PARANOIA ABOUT BEING CHARGED WITH DISCRIMINATION, THE SELF-DESTRUCTIVENESS OF GIVING AN UNFLATTERING EVALUATION OF AN EMPLOYEE WITH WHOM YOU MUST WORK CLOSELY, AND PERSONNEL PROCEDURES USED AS DEFENSE MECHANISMS RATHER THAN AS AFFIRMATIVE TOOLS. THE NACA MEMBERSHIP APEARED TO HAVE MORE INTEREST IN RECORDS MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THEY WERE MORE DIRECTLY RESPONBSIBLE FOR THAT ACTIVITY ON A DAILY BASIS. FOOTNOTES AND APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)