NCJ Number
202290
Date Published
2002
Length
134 pages
Annotation
This report contains a compilation of statistical data on the workload and related judicial functions of the Indiana judicial system.
Abstract
This volume presents an executive summary of the Indiana Judicial Report for the activities of calendar year 2002. The report presents aggregate summary data and is not intended to provide a complete detailed account of every judicial decision. Volume I provides sections on the Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Court of Appeals, Indiana Tax Court, Indiana Trial Courts, fiscal information, and rosters. More new cases were filed during 2002 than any previous year. The filing of 1,883, 975 new cases represents a 4.7 percent increase over 2001 new filings and a 35.5 percent increase over the past 10 year period. The highest rate of increase occurred in the ordinance violence cases, with the largest number of cases filed for infractions. In 2002, for every 100 Indiana residents, there was 1 felony case filed and for every 30 Indiana residents, there was 1 misdemeanor case filed. Taken together, Indiana courts disposed of 1,433,645 cases during 2002, which represents 76 percent of the total cases. Guilty plea/admission was the most frequent method of disposition, with 28.6 percent of cases disposed in this manner. Bench trials accounted for 6.1 percent of dispositions, while jury trials accounted for 0.14 percent of dispositions in 2002. The number of cases filed in city and town courts also increased during 2002 and consisted mainly of traffic infractions, ordinance violations, and misdemeanors. Overall, the State utilization of courts is at 122 percent, which means that, on average, Indiana courts are operating at 22 percent capacity. This weighted caseload management estimation reveals that there is a statewide shortage of judicial officers. Fiscal data for 2002 shows an increase in revenue and a decrease in expenditures. Total revenue increased 8.3 percent from 2001, while expenditures decreased 0.52 percent from 2001. During fiscal year 2001/2002, the State of Indiana spent a total of $73,235,532 on the operation of the judicial system. Each court case in Indiana was estimated to cost an average of $42.20, which represents a $10 decrease per case from 2001. Volume II contains tables reflecting caseload information for every court in Indiana. Volume III contains information about expenditures and revenues for Indiana’s courts. Tables