NCJ Number
83681
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The distinctiveness of rural courts, the major elements of rural court models, and using rural court models are discussed.
Abstract
Rural courts are distinct from their metropolitan counterparts in the larger geographic areas and lower population density served, a general lack of resources, and a tendency toward informality, flexibility, and resistance to bureaucracy. Overall, rural court models can be expected to express more informality, flexibility, and responsiveness to community values than models for metropolitan courts. The critical policy areas that should be examined in building rural court models are court organizational types, method of service delivery, and professionalism. The principal issue in the area of professionalism is whether to emphasize expertise and extensive legal training or familiarity with the community and acceptance by community lawyers and residents. The basic policy issue in service delivery is whether services should be handled locally to preserve community values or be centralized to permit specialization and some extra services. Issues in the area of court organizational types focus on uniformity in procedures and forms, political alliances with State judicial or local government colleagues, and the independence of each court. The strengths of rural courts should be emphasized in rural court models, notably informality, flexibility, and responsiveness to the community. Diversity, where appropriate, should be encouraged, so policymakers will adopt approaches best suited to their particular environments. Fourteen notes are listed.