NCJ Number
19845
Date Published
1974
Length
85 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY UNDERTAKEN TO ESTABLISH OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OR DISCONTINUANCE OF BRANCH COURT OPERATIONS IN THE SUPERIOR AND MUNICIPAL COURTS OF CALIFORNIA.
Abstract
AFTER PRESENTING A SUMMARY OF THE STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS, THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS OF EXISTING BRANCH COURT OPERATIONS ARE PRESENTED. THESE FINDINGS ARE BASED UPON QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES TO A SURVEY OF THE STATE'S SUPERIOR AND MUNICIPAL COURTS, AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF 29 SUPERIOR AND MUNICIPAL COURTS, AND TIME AND WORK LOAD DATA COLLECTED AS PART OF TWO OTHER STUDIES. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF EXISTING BRANCH COURTS AND THE FACTORS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ESTABLISHMENT IS PROVIDED. A SUMMARY OF THE ADVANTAGES, DISADVANTAGES, AND LIMITATIONS INHERENT IN BRANCH COURT OPERATIONS IS INCLUDED AS WELL. FINALLY, A DESCRIPTION OF THE RECOMMENDED BRANCH COURT CRITERIA IS GIVEN. THE RECOMMENDED CRITERIA CONSIST OF SPECIFIC MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FULL AND LIMITED SERVICE BRANCH COURTS AND A MEANS FOR COMPUTING COST-BENEFIT INDEX FOR PROPOSED BRANCH LOCATIONS.