JUSTICE COURTS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK

• NCJ Number: 58164
• Author(s): J M KRESS; S L STANLEY
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 184 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: New York State Assoc of Magistrates; New York Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officers
• Corporate Author: New York State Assoc of Magistrates
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS OF A STUDY FOCUSING ON THE SCOPE, QUALITY, AND FUTURE OF THE JUSTICE COURT SYSTEM OF NEW YORK STATE ARE PRESENTED; OVERVIEW, FINANCING, AND LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED.

Abstract

IN ORDER TO ASSIST THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ANALYSES OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE JUSTICE COURTS, FROM WHICH RECOMMENDATIONS BEARING ON THE FUTURE WORK OF THE LOWER COURTS WILL BE DERIVED, THE OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MAGISTRATES OF NEW YORK STATE COMMISSIONED AN INDEPENDENT STUDY OF THE JUSTICE COURT SYSTEM. AREAS STUDIED INCLUDE JURISDICTION, STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW, THE JUSTICES, FINANCING, AND LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ATTENTION BE GIVEN TO THE WIDE RANGE OF DISCRETION ACCORDED THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY UNDER CURRENT LAW. IN ADDITION, THE STUDY HAS REVEALED A PROBLEM OF DELAY IN JUSTICE COURT PROCEEDINGS WITH BOTH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT'S SERVICES. DELAY AND REASONS THEREFORE SHOULD BE FULLY ANALYZED AND ACTION TAKEN TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. FINALLY, OVERCENTRALIZATION OF GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS HAS BEEN A REPEATED UNDERCURRENT THROUGHOUT THE STUDY. THE TOWN AND VILLAGE JUSTICE COURTS, OPERATING ON A MORE DECENTRALIZED BASIS, HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFICIENT, ECONOMICAL, AND EFFECTIVE. DATA COLLECTED FOR THE STUDY WERE OBTAINED THROUGH PERSONAL INTERVIEWS, QUESTIONNAIRES AND FROM INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCIES. STATISTICAL TABULAR DATA, APPENDIXES, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)