REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS OF FOUR DISTRICT COURT ADMINISTRATOR PROJECTS IN IOWA PRIOR TO SPA (STATE PLANNING AGENCIES) REFUNDING

• NCJ Number: 26856
• Author(s): G W ALLISON; S A FRIEDMAN; L M JACOBS; C H STARRETT
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 34 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-043-72
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPORT ON A CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT WHICH EVALUATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE PILOT PROJECTS IN IMPROVING COURT OPERATIONS IN THE DISTRICTS SERVED AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT.

Abstract

THIS PROJECT REVIEWED THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF JUDICAL ADMINISTRATION IN IOWA; COMPARED THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FOUR COURT ADMINISTRATORS TO THE SUBGRANT APPLICATIONS; RELATED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COURT ADMINISTATORS TO THE CONCEPT OF THEIR DUTIES AS PERCEIVED BY THE HEADS OF THE JUDICIAL DISTRICTS INVOLVED; AND MEASURED THE PROGRAMS' OPERATIONS AGAINST THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION STANDARDS. THIS OPERATIONS REVIEW INVOLVED ON-SITE VISITS TO EACH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, A REVIEW OF PERTINENT PROGRAM DATA, AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH PERSONS AT ALL LEVELS OF THE JUDICIAL AND COURT ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS IN THE FOUR DISTRICTS. THIS REPORT CONTAINS A DISTRICT BY DISTRICT ANALYSIS WHICH SUMMARIZES AND THEN EVALUATES EACH PROGRAM. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STATE, COURT ADMINISTRATOR HAD NOT ESTABLISHED A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INDIVIDUAL JUDICIAL DISTRICTS OR THEIR COURT ADMINISTRATORS AND THAT COURT ADMINISTRATION IN ONE OF THE DISTRICTS, A LARGE MULTI-COUNTY DISTRICT WAS WORTHY OF SPECIAL ATTENTION DUE TO ITS POTENTIAL IMPACT ON OTHER SIMILAR AREAS IN THE NATION. IT WAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT COURT ADMINISTRATION HAD ADVANCED IN DISTRICTS WHERE AREA CRIME COMMISSION DIRECTORS SEEMED TO EVIDENCE SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND WHERE THE AREA DIRECTOR HAD ESTABLISHED LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF JUDGE, THIRTEEN SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE OUTLINED, INCLUDING REFUNDING OF ALL PROGRAMS FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS A LIST OF PERSONS INTERVIEWED AND STANDARDS FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL TRIAL COURT ADMINISTRATORS.