NCJ Number
47660
Date Published
1978
Length
110 pages
Annotation
COURT STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1977 ARE PRESENTED, AND THE YEAR'S SIGNIFICANT EVENTS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMON PLEAS AND MUNICIPAL COURTS OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., INCLUDED STEADY PROGRESS AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF PAST GAINS. THESE OBJECTIVES ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. THIS PROGRESS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY OF OPERATION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE COURTS TO THE PUBLIC. OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED THE USE OF AUTOMATED TRANSCRIPTS AT PRELIMINARY ARRAIGNMENTS, COMPUTER-AIDED TRANSCRIPTION AS A REGULAR PART OF COURT OPERATION, AND THE EXPANSION OF COURT LAW LIBRARY FACILITIES WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF LEXIS (A COMPUTERIZED LEGAL RESEARCH TERMINAL). THE ONE DAY/ONE TRIAL JURY-SELECTION SYSTEM WAS IMPLEMENTED IN ORDER TO INCREASE COURT EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE INCONVENIENCE TO THE JURORS. THE JUDGES PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY OF SENTENCING GUIDELINES INITIATED BY THE CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH. THE JUDGES ALSO TOOK PART IN A REFRESHER TRAINING PROGRAM. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE PUBLIC WAS ALSO A PART OF COURT ACTIVITY, WITH EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDING A REMEDIAL READING PROGRAM AND BILINGUAL DESCRIPTIONS OF COURT OPERATION. A COMMITTEE WAS ALSO FORMED TO CREATE PUBLIC INTEREST IN BUILDING A NEW JUSTICE CENTER. STATISTICAL SUMMARIES IN TABULAR FORM ARE PROVIDED FOR THE COMMON PLEAS COURTS AND THE MUNICIPAL COURTS. DATA ON THE NUMBER OF TRIALS, ARBITRATION CASES, CASE PROGRAMS, AND MORE COURT-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND ITEMS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH OF THE COURT DIVISONS, WHICH INCLUDE FAMILY COURT, ORPHANS' COURT, AND CIVIL AND CRIMINAL MUNICIPAL COURT. OTHER DATA RELATE TO THE PRETRIAL SERVICES DIVISION AND THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. EXTENSIVE TABULAR DATA AND CHARTS ARE INCLUDED ALONG WITH PHOTOGRAPHS OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE AND EVENTS. A CHART ON THE ORGANIZATION OF COURT ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO PROVIDED. (BAC)