NCJ Number
68750
Date Published
1975
Length
59 pages
Annotation
MASSACHUSETTS 1975 STATISTICS ON COURT EMPLOYMENT AND EXPENDITURES (EXCLUDING PROBATION) ARE PRESENTED, SHOWING A COMMITMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNDS FOR COURTS THAT IS LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
Abstract
DATA USED FOR THIS REPORT INCLUDE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU EMPLOYMENT AND EXPENDITURE INFORMATION, THE 1975 MASSACHUSETTS POPULATION CENSUS, AND UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS' COMMITMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FUNDS, FOR COURTS EXCLUDING PROBATION, WAS 17.8 PERCENT, VERSUS A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 18.9 PERCENT. MOREOVER, THE STATE GOVERNMENT HAD A RELATIVELY LOW LEVEL OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR JUDICIAL EXPENDITURES--18 PERCENT VERSUS THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 26.2 PERCENT FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS. HOWEVER, THE STATE FUNDING FOR LEGAL SERVICES, PROSECUTION, AND PUBLIC DEFENSE WERE RELATIVELY HIGH (31.5 VERSUS 28.6 PERCENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES AND PROSECUTION, 59.2 PERCENT AND 33.9 PERCENT FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE). VARIATIONS IN PER CASE COUNTY DISTRICT COURT JUDICIAL EXPENDITURES APPEAR TO BE DUE PRIMARILY TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CASE LOADS; AMOUNTS RANGED FROM $14.36 FOR HAMPSHIRE COUNTY TO $26.21 IN NORFOLK. PER CASE COSTS OF SUPERIOR COURT CASES WERE ABOUT TEN TIMES HIGHER THAN DISTRICT COURT CASES ($250 VERSUS $23). FINALLY, PER CASE COSTS SHOWED A FAIRLY HIGH VARIATION AMONG COUNTIES. MASSACHUSETTS COURT WORKLOAD DATA IS ALSO PRESENTED. FOOTNOTES, TABLES, CHARTS, AND APPENDICES ARE INCLUDED.