NCJ Number
45484
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
A METHOD OF MODERNIZING NONAUTOMATED COURT CASE PROCESSING SYSTEMS IS OUTLINED, INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS OF TRADITIONAL AND MODEL SYSTEM TOOLS AND APPLICATION OF THE MODEL SYSTEM TO VARIOUS TYPES OF COURTS.
Abstract
APPROXIMATELY 97 PERCENT OF ALL COURTS IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE NOT ADOPTED AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING FOR HANDLING CASE PROCESSING AND STILL USE OUTDATED MANUAL METHODS. THE MODEL MANUAL SYSTEM DESCRIBED USES INNOVATIVE FORMS DESIGN TO COMBINE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS, STREAMLINE PROCEDURES, AND ELIMINATE REPETITIVE OPERATIONS. COST SAVINGS RESULT FROM REDUCED LABOR REQUIREMENTS AND REDUCED EXPENDITURES ON SUPPLIES SUCH AS BOOKS AND BINDERS. IT ELIMINATES THE TRADITIONAL BOOKS USED FOR INDEXES AND REGISTERS WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO UPDATE, STORE, AND HANDLE. VARIOUS FORMS DESIGN TECHNIQUES OUTLINED INCLUDE THE USE OF MULTIPART FORMS TO AVOID REPETITION; PLASTIC OVERLAYS TO COMBINE ELEMENTS OF DIFFERENT FORMS; AND STATISTICS TALLY SHEETS FOR EASIER SUMMARIES, A TABLE PROVIDES A DETAILED COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL AND MODEL CASE PROCESSING METHODS. PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASES IN COURTS OF LIMITED AND GENERAL JURISDICTION ARE DESCRIBED, INCLUDING PROCESSING OF CASE INITIATING DOCUMENTATION, FINAL JUDGMENT, SETTLEMENT, OR ORDERS; POSTJUDGMENT ACTIVITY; AND STATISTICS. AMENDMENTS TO LOCAL RECORDKEEPING RULES TO PERMIT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MODEL SYSTEM ARE SUGGESTED. APPENDIXES PROVIDE SAMPLES AND DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LIMITED AND GENERAL JURISDICTION FORMS AND AMENDMENTS TO RULES WHICH HAVE BEEN USED IN THE STATE OF COLORADO. (VDA)