RURAL COURTS - TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS

• NCJ Number: 43597
• Journal: State Court Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 6-8,35-39
• Author(s): T J FETTER; E K STOTT
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-DF-99-0021
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
• Corporate Author: National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SUMMARY OF 'RURAL COURTS - THE EFFECT OF SPACE AND DISTANCE ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

Annotation

THE RESULTS OF AN 18-MONTH INVESTIGATION OF THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF COURTS IN NONMETROPOLITAN AREAS ARE SUMMARIZED.

Abstract

THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF RURAL COURTS ARE POINTED OUT, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE CHARACTER OF THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES. THE TENDENCY OF JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND COURT PERSONNEL IN RURAL AREAS TO FEEL ISOLATED FROM THEIR COLLEAGUES IS NOTED. FEATURES OF THE OPERATION OF RURAL COURTS ARE OUTLINED, AND COURT MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE NATURE OF THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT ARE DISCUSSED. SUCH PROBLEMS RELATE TO PERSONNEL RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, CASE SCHEDULING, JURY MANAGEMENT, COURT REPORTING, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, COURT-RELATED SOCIAL SERVICES, AND INTERAGENCY RELATIONS. IT IS NOTED THAT THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF RURAL COURTS USUALLY INVOLVE MORE FUNDS, BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNIQUENESS OF RURAL COURTS, GREATER CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, AND IMPROVED TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS OF DISTANCE AND ISOLATION. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR RURAL COURT PERSONNEL ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING REGIONAL TRAINING SESSIONS, ROVING TRAINERS, AND SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL DEVICES. FIVE MEANS OF TRANSFERRING INFORMATION TO RURAL COURTS -- BENCH BOOKS AND MANUALS OF PROCEDURE, NEWSLETTERS, ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES, DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON MODEL PROJECTS, AND REGIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE -- ARE NOTED. GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING RURAL COURT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ARE SUGGESTED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN RURAL AREAS CAN BEST BE ACHIEVED THROUGH INTERDEPENDENT, COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE STATE AND LOCAL COURT IMPROVEMENTS. IT IS URGED THAT STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING JUSTICE IN RURAL AREAS BE BASED ON INSTITUTIONAL PRECEPTS WHICH STRENGTHEN EXISTING COMMUNITIES AND TRADITIONS RATHER THAN MAKING COMMUNITIES DEPENDENT COMPONENTS OF LARGER REGIONS.