NCJ Number
122765
Date Published
1989
Length
92 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the potential outcomes of a unified judicial system in Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the juvenile court.
Abstract
In County of Allegheny v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1987), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court concluded that funding of the judicial system, then predominately a county responsibility, was in conflict with Article V of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which mandates a unified judicial system. Since that time, various government branches, both at the State and local levels, have begun interpreting the court's ruling and assessing its potential fiscal and operational impact on their respective systems. This report aids this enterprise through a literature review on court unification, its process, and impact; a survey of the other 49 States to determine their administrative models for juvenile probation; and an analysis of the information obtained. The report notes that the clear trend in court unification nationally is a transition to State administration and funding of juvenile probation, either through the administrative office of the courts or the State executive branch. It is likely that complete funding, standardization, and administration of juvenile probation services by the State will transfer juvenile probation officers to State employment. One potential impact of such a transition would be the decrease in specialized services developed in county juvenile probation offices. 8-item bibliography.