PROMIS (PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM), NO 6 - PARALEGALS, REVISED, AUGUST 1976

• NCJ Number: 44755
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 7 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-016-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; INSLAW
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PROMIS BRIEFING SERIES

Annotation

PLANS FOR EXPANDING THE DUTIES OF PARALEGAL PERSONNEL IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROMIS, A LEAA EXEMPLARY PROJECT, AT THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SERVED TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS ABOUT THE UTILITY OF PARALEGALS BY EXPOSING IMPORTANT WEAKNESSES IN THE DOCUMENTATION OF CASES BY ASSISTANT PROSECUTORS, WHICH IN TURN LED TO THE REALIZATION THAT MUCH OF THE DOCUMENTATION COULD BE PERFORMED BY PARALEGALS. PROMIS ALSO PROMOTED GREATER USE OF PARALEGAL PERSONNEL THROUGH ITS REQUIREMENT FOR COMPLETE, CONSISTENT, UNIFORM DATA INPUT. A BYPRODUCT OF THE THOUGHT REQUIRED TO DESIGN THE NECESSARY INPUT FORMS WAS THE IMPROVED STRUCTURING OF TASKS, BRINGING MORE OF THE TASKS WITHIN THE CAPABILITIES OF PARALEGALS. PARALEGALS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C., OFFICE WORK IN THE AREAS OF DOCUMENTATION, WITNESS NOTIFICATION, CONTINUANCE COORDINATION, SCHEDULE RECONCILIATION, WITNESS INQUIRIES, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND WITNESS ROOM STAFFING. ADDITIONAL USES OF PARALEGALS ARE BEING EXPLORED IN THE AREAS OF FELONY TRIAL PREPARATION, INTAKE AND SCREENING, CITIZEN COMPLAINT SCREENING, ARRAIGNMENT AND CALENDAR CONTROL COURTS, MISDEMEANOR TRIAL PREPARATION, AND DIVERSION PROGRAMS. MAJOR BENEFITS OF PARALEGAL UTILIZATION INCLUDE BETTER ALLOCATION OF ATTORNEYS' TIME, INCREASED EFFICIENCY, AND IMPROVED RELATIONS BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. FOR OTHER ISSUES IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ 44750-44754 AND 44756-44770.