NCJ Number
53792
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
RURAL COURTS ARE SEEN AS POSSESSING UNIQUE STRENGTHS AS THEY ARE FREE FROM IMPERSONAL BUREAUCRACY, OVERSIZE CASE BACKLOGS, AND HIGH CRIME RATES. IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD KEEP THEIR UNIQUE LOCAL CHARACTER.
Abstract
THE BACKGROUND SECTION OF THIS PAPER SEES THE PROBLEMS OF RURAL COURTS AS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THOSE OF URBAN COURTS, FINDING QUALIFIED PERSONNEL AND DISPENSING IMPARTIAL JUSTICE WITH DUE REGARD FOR COURTEOUS TREATMENT OF ALL INVOLVED IN THE COURT PROCESS. HOWEVER, SPARSE POPULATION, ISOLATION FROM COLLEAGUES, PROBLEMS RELATED TO ECONOMY OF SCALE, LACK OF RESOURCES, AND FAMILIARITY WITH EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY PRESENT SPECIAL CHALLENGES TO RURAL COURTS. BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES, SPECIAL JUVENILE PROGRAMS OR TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. ISOLATION MEANS THAT JUDGES AND PERSONNEL MUST WORK HARDER TO MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS AND OFTEN THEY ARE AT THE END OF THE LINE WHEN STATE RESOURCES ARE DISTRIBUTED. OFTEN THE JUDGE IS HIS OWN SECRETARY, AND PART TIME PERSONNEL OR VOLUNTEERS MAY BE UTILIZED TO KEEP THE RECORDS. BECAUSE OF THE INTIMACY OF RURAL AREAS, IT IS HARD TO FIND IMPARTIAL JURIES. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY ARE FREE FROM HEAVY DOCKETS, RURAL COURTS CAN DISPENSE MORE PERSONALIZED JUSTICE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT RURAL COURT IMPROVEMENT UTILIZE COURT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, CONCERNED CITIZEN'S COMMITTEES, AND A SHARING OF RESOURCES IN A COMMUNITY-BASED SYSTEM. OPERATIONS OF THE CITIZEN'S COMMITTEES AND THE LOCALLY ORIENTED SHARING SYSTEM ARE EXAMINED. A PLEA IS MADE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE RESPONSIVENESS OF RURAL COURTS.