NCJ Number
38115
Editor(s)
J K LEADER
Date Published
1976
Length
183 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES BY JUDGES, SPA (STATE PLANNING AGENCY) COURT SPECIALISTS, AND OTHERS ON THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS IN COURT SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT AND THE ROLE OF THE SPA COURT SPECIALIST IN THIS IMPROVEMENT.
Abstract
THIS HANDBOOK IS DIVIDED INTO SEVEN CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I IS A GENERAL INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER II EXPLORES THE ROLE OF THE SPA COURTS SPECIALIST IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES PREPARED BY PERSONS WORKING IN VARIOUS DIFFERENT CAPACITIES. AMONG THE MANY PERSPECTIVES INCLUDED ARE THOSE OF AN SPA COURTS SPECIALIST, AN SPA DIRECTOR, AN APPELLATE COURT JUDGE, A TRIAL COURT JUDGE, A PROSECUTOR, A PUBLIC DEFENDER AND A COURTS AREA RESEARCHER. CHAPTER III CONTAINS A SUMMARY OF TECHNIQUES AND APPROACHES SUGGESTED BY COURTS SPECIALISTS IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTIONNAIRE AND FOUR ARTICLES BY CURRENT OR FORMER SPA COURTS SPECIALISTS CONTAINING CONCRETE IDEAS WHICH MAY BE OF VALUE TO OTHERS. CHAPTER IV IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR SPA COURTS SPECIALISTS OF THE TOTAL PLANNING PROCESS AND SPECIFICALLY OF THE LEAA COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVIEW PROCESS. IT INCLUDES AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY AN APPEALS COURT JUDGE, A JOINT ARTICLE BY TWO COURTS PLANNERS WHO HAVE HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA AND TWO ARTICLES BY AN LEAA REGIONAL OFFICE COURTS SPECIALIST. CHAPTER V, 'CASE HISTORIES OF SOME SIGNIFICANT COURT-RELATED PROGRAMS' INCLUDES A SERIES OF TRUE STORIES, EACH DETAILING HOW A PROGRAM IDEA WAS CONCEIVED, DEVELOPED, 'SOLD' TO THE COURT SYSTEM AND/OR THE SPA AND IMPLEMENTED. IN SEVERAL CASES A SECOND ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN ON THE SAME TOPIC BY THE COURTS SPECIALIST'S COUNTERPART IN THE COURTS SYSTEM TO LEND ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON THE COURTS SPECIALIST'S ROLE IN PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. CHAPTER VI, 'TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES,' INCLUDES ARTICLES DESCRIBING THE KINDS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AND HOW TO MAKE USE OF THEM. IT ALSO INCLUDES AN ARTICLE ON HOW TO DEVELOP GOOD REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL, SO THAT THE SERVICES WHICH ARE REALLY NEEDED ARE, IN FACT, OBTAINED. INCLUDED AS AN APPENDIX ARE GUIDELINES ON PREPARING GRANT APPLICATIONS AND A LIST OF SUGGESTED READINGS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)