NCJ Number
43875
Date Published
1977
Length
44 pages
Annotation
FAYETTE COUNTY'S INFORMAL MECHANISM FOR RESOLVING INTERPERSONAL DISPUTES OUTSIDE OF THE TRADITIONAL COURT PROCESS IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE NIGHT COURT PROGRAM IN LEXINGTON, KY., ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER 1976 UNDER A FEDERAL GRANT, ATTEMPTS TO SETTLE DOMESTIC DISPUTES THROUGH ARBITRATION, MEDIATION, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. THE PROGRAM IS STAFFED BY A PROJECT DIRECTOR, ONE FULL-TIME AND ONE PART-TIME HEARING OFFICER, A DAY CLERK, AND A NIGHT CLERK. THE EVALUATION, UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE STATE COURT BUDGET AND WHETHER SIMILAR PROGRAMS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED ELSEWHERE IN THE STATE, FOCUSES ON THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS IN DIVERTING CASES FROM THE FORMAL COURTS, ON THE TIMELINESS OF CASE DISPOSITION, ON BENEFITS TO THE PUBLIC, AND ON PERSONNEL PERFORMANCE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED CONCERNING STAFFING LEVELS, CASE SCHEDULING, FORMS, RECORDS, AND STATISTICS. IN ADDITION, A DESIGN FOR A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF THE PROGRAM IS PRESENTED. ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM'S CASELOAD IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF OPERATIONS REMAINED BELOW EXPECTATIONS, PLANNED CHANGES IN THE REFERRAL SYSTEM AND IMPROVED PUBLIC RELATIONS SHOULD INCREASE THE CASELOAD. FROM NOVEMBER 15, 1976, TO FEBRUARY 15, 1977, THE NIGHT COURT PROGRAM HANDLED 255 (57.4 PERCENT) OF THE 444 COMPLAINTS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE QUARTERLY COURT. NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF THE 255 CASES SCHEDULED FOR NIGHT COURT WERE 'NO-SHOWS.' COPIES OF THE PROGRAM'S CASE MANAGEMENT FORMS ARE PROVIDED.