NCJ Number
66374
Date Published
1979
Length
42 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM FOR COURT-MANAGEMENT IS PRESENTED: THE PROSECUTORS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PROMIS) FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURTS.
Abstract
PROMIS CAN BE TAILORED TO CIVIL, CRIMINAL, OR JUVENILE CASELOADS AND TO A VARIETY OF COURT TYPES (I.E., LIMITED AND GENERAL JURISDICTION, APPELLATE, ETC.) IT CAN FURTHER BE USEFUL TO DIFFERING CASE ASSIGNMENTS SYSTEMS AND FOR STANDARDIZING CASE-PROCESSING STEPS AND PROCEDURES TO TERMINOLOGY, AND TO REPORT CONTENTS AND FORMATS. MOREOVER, PROMIS IS COMPATIBLE WITH BOTH MINICOMPUTERS AND LARGE MAINFRAMES. PROMIS PERMITS THE CAPTURE OF INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CAUSES OF ACTION, THE OFFENSE, SCHEDULING, DOCKET ENTRIES, CASE PARTICIPANTS, DISPOSITIONS, SENTENCES, APPEALS, AND THE LIKE. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE RETRIEVED AS PRINTED REPORTS OR AS DISPLAYS ON THE VIDEO SCREENS OF COMPUTER TERMINALS. DISPLAYS ON THE VIDEO SCREENS CAN PRESENT ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON A GIVEN CASE OR FOCUS ON ONLY A SEGMENT OF CASE INFORMATION. INFORMATION CAN ALSO BE RETRIEVED ON ALL CASES SHARING A SPECIFIED CHARACTERISTIC OR ATTRIBUTE. FUTHER PROMIS CAPABILITIES CAN BE DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF (1) CLERICAL BENEFITS, (2) SCHEDULING ASSISTANCE, (3) IMPROVED SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, (4) CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT, AND (5) AIDING JUDICIAL DECISIONMAKING. TO ENCOURAGE THE ADOPTION OF PROMIS BY PUBLIC LAW AGENCIES, LEAA HAS CONTRACTED WITH THE INSTITUTE OF LAW AND SOCIAL RESEARCH (INSLAW) FOR THE PROVISION OF PROMIS SOFTWARE, DOCUMENTATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. IN THIS CAPACITY, INSLAW STRIVES TO BRIDGE THE COMMUNICATION-EXPERTISE GAP OFTEN EXISTING BETWEEN THE DEVELOPERS OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE POTENTIAL USERS. FOOTNOTES, CHARTS, AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED. APPENDED INFORMATION INCLUDE THE MANAGEMENT REPORT, GENERALIZED INQUIRY, AND FORMS MANAGEMENT PACKAGES AND A TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ON-LINE PROMIS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--WJR)