RURAL COURTS-THE EFFECT OF SPACE AND DISTANCE ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

• NCJ Number: 43028
• Author(s): E K STOTT; T J FETTER; L L CRITES
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 130 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-DF-08-0007
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO RURAL COURTS ARE DETAILED AND SUGGESTIONS FOR MANAGEMENT OF RECORDS, PERSONNEL TRAINING AND OFFERING EFFECTIVE COURT-RELATED SERVICE ARE MADE BASED ON STUDY OF RURAL SITUATIONS.

Abstract

THE ISOLATION AND LACK OF MONEY COMMON TO MANY RURAL COURTS OFFER SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES AT A TIME WHEN THE COMING OF INDUSTRY TO NONURBAN AREAS IS SPAWNING RAPID GROWTH OF BOTH POPULATION AND CRIME. SOLUTIONS BASED ON URBAN EXPERIENCES ARE GENERALLY UNSATISFACTORY. THIS STUDY BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS CONTAINS CASES HISTORIES OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING MULTIUSE COURT/JAIL/COUNTY COURTHOUSE FACILITIES, USE OF VOLUNTEERS TO AUGMENT CORRECTIONS STAFF AND TO SUPPLY JUVENILE AND PROBATION SUPPORT FACILITIES, AND JURY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS OF DISTANCE. THE PROBLEMS OF CONVINCING STATE LEGISLATORS THAT DISTANCE AND TIME ARE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN RURAL COURT MANAGEMENT ARE DISCUSSED. TABLES DOCUMENT THE CHANGES IN POPULATION AND CRIME IN THE RURAL U.S. FLOOR PLANS FOR REGIONAL COURT FACILITIES ARE GIVEN. APPENDIXES GIVE BACKGROUND PAPERS FROM A CONFERENCE ON RURAL COURTS, AN INDEX OF INNOVATIVE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY.