NCJ Number
65454
Journal
Court Management Journal Dated: (1980) Pages: 9-11,29
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DOCUMENTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF COURT PLANNING, DESCRIBES AND EVALUATES ITS CURRENT STATUS, AND SUGGESTS FUTURE ISSUES THAT COURT PLANNING IS LIKELY TO CONFRONT.
Abstract
IN 1975, THE SPECIAL STUDY TEAM OF LEAA SUPPORT FOR THE COURTS FOUND THAT STATE COURTS WERE NOT RECEIVING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF LEAA FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE PLANNING AND ALLOCATION PROCESSES BECAUSE OF UNDERREPRESENTATION IN STATE PLANNING AGENCIES AND A LACK OF INDEPENDENT COURT PLANNING CAPACITY. TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURT'S COURT PLANNING CAPABILITIES PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED AS A 3-YEAR UNDERTAKING WITH A BUDGET IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLIION. THE PROGRAM ADVANCED PLANNING AS A COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS INVOLVING POLITICAL SKILL AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. INTENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS GIVEN SIX PILOT STATES, LIMITED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED OTHER INTERESTED STATES, AND INTELLECTUAL GUIDANCE WAS ENSURED FOR ALL STATES THROUGH A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR PLANNING INFORMATION AND RESEARCH. BY 1978 FUNDING WAS REAUTHORIZED AND 35 STATES HAS CREATED JUDICIAL PLANNING COMMITTEES. OVERALL, JUDICIAL PARTICIPATION IN STATE PLANNING AND ALLOCATION PROCESSES HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. MOREOVER, THE PLANNING PROCESS INSPIRED THE DEVELOPMENT OF NUMEROUS COURT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, INVOLVING PLANNERS IN BOTH THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW PROGRAMS. PROJECT EXAMPLES INCLUDE A JUDICIAL PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM, BENCH-MEDIA SEMINARS, TRIAL COURT CONSOLIDATION, AND STATEWIDE PERSONNEL SYSTEMS. COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING, DUE TO ITS ALL-ENCOMPASSING NATURE AND PREREQUISITE AGREEMENT ON GOALS, HAS NOT BEEN PURSUED SIGNIFICANTLY. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE SHORTAGE OF PLANNERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS SHOULD INCLUDE GREATER STATE PARTICIPATION IN FUNDING OF SUCH CRUCIAL STATE FUNCTIONS AS JUDICIAL PLANNING. ALSO, TRIAL COURTS SHOULD BE EFFECTIVELY BROUGHT INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS, AND JUDGES MUST BEGIN TO ACCEPT PLANNING EFFORTS AS A SERIOUS AND CONTINUING JUDICIAL RESPONSIBILITY. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (MRK)