NCJ Number
49923
Date Published
1978
Length
159 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF THE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT PROJECT IN GEORGIA EXAMINES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT CONCEPT IN IMPROVING THE OPERATION OF TRIAL COURTS.
Abstract
THE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION ACT OF 1976 DIVIDED GEORGIA INTO 10 JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION DISTRICTS AND ENABLED SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES IN EACH DISTRICT TO INSTITUTE A SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION FOR COURTS OF RECORD. AN EVALUATION, BASED ON THE NEED TO ASSESS THE UTILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SYSTEM, CONSIDERED THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROJECT (1) WAS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT, (2) MET THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES STATED IN THE GRANT UNDER WHICH LEAA FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED, AND (3) WAS COST BENEFICIAL. DATA FOR EVALUATION WERE COLLECTED FROM STATE CRIME COMMISSION REPORTS; INTERVIEWS WITH JUDGES; AND QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES, COURT OFFICIALS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, AND OTHER COURT PERSONNEL. INFORMATION IS GIVEN BY DISTRICT ON GRANT REQUIREMENTS AND OBJECTIVES AND ON RESPONSES OF INTERVIEWEES. ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PROJECT, INITIATED IN 9 OUT OF 10 DISTRICTS, INCLUDE INCREASED COMMUNICATION AMONG SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES, IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING AMONG DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS OF THEIR COURT RECORDS AND WORKLOADS, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MODEL DOCKET SYSTEM, COOPERATION BETWEEN ADMINISTRATORS AND COURT PERSONNEL IN IMPROVING CASELOAD FLOW, SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN JUROR SELECTION AND UTILIZATION PROCEDURES, AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENT AND SPACE MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS. DISTRICT JUDGES AND ADMINISTRATORS HAVE MANAGED TO RELIEVE SOME OF THE COURTS' BURDENS BY HEARING CASES IN OUTSIDE CIRCUITS AND ASSISTING PERSONNEL IN PREPARING BUDGETS. ONE DISTRICT INSTITUTED A DISTRICT-WIDE POOL OF COURT REPORTERS. RECOMMMENDATIONS FOR EASING CERTAIN PROBLEMS INCURRED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROJECT ARE MADE. APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS, SIGNIFICANT JUDICIAL LEGISLATION FROM 1971-1976, DATA ON JUDICIAL SYSTEM WORKLOAD AND MANPOWER FOR THESE YEARS, A MAP OF THE DISTRICTS, A PROGRESS REPORT ON GRANTS, A DISCUSSION OF GRANT ADMINISTRATION PROBLEMS, AND THE INSTITUTE FOR COURT MANAGEMENT TRAINING SEMINAR MATERIALS. (DAG)