NCJ Number
119487
Journal
Judges' Journal Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1989) Pages: 22-25,51-53
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The automation of jury management has long been recognized as a logical and cost-effective application of computer technology and is now possible for any court as a result of the introduction of microcomputers and of State-level computer support for trial courts.
Abstract
Thus, large and small courts and rural and urban courts can benefit from the automation of the jury system. Automation allows rural court clerks to spend less time in the preparation of lists and forms and permits large urban courts to improve the management of the millions of dollars paid for juror fees and mileage. It saves money because the bulk of the work required to support the jury system lies in the many selections, mailings, notifications, and preparation of lists. None of this work requires direct ties to other court systems such as caseflow management or docketing. As a result, jury automation can be effectively supported by a self-standing minicomputer or microcomputer or by operations on a mainframe computer. The range of activities supported by these computers can vary from the simple generation of labels to the automatic scanning of forms and bar codes. The systems can support both the operations of the jury system and the overall management of the jury system. Courts considering automation should contact other courts for ideas, recognize juror privacy, preserve and ensure randomness, preserve fiscal integrity, design forms carefully, provide for rapid payment of jurors, provide for special conditions, and avoid making the system completely impersonal.