NCJ Number
104546
Date Published
1986
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This study examined the structural and case-specific influences on criminal case processing times in Detroit's recorder's court.
Abstract
At the time of the study, the court was involved in a delay reduction project that consisted of changes in the calendaring system and other court operations. The analysis was based on a random sample of felony complaints filed between April 1976 and March 1978. All but 26 of the cases were completed by the study's close. The model underlying the study's mathematical equations used six categories of variables believed to impact case processing times. Three variable categories pertain to particular cases: participants' incentives to speed or slow the case, the case's complexity, and the event sequence the case follows as a function of participants' actions. Three variable categories relate to the court and its context: general incentives derived from court structure, the structural faciliation of case processing, and the caseload. Most explanatory variables had their anticipated effects and together explained the processing time. Caseload variables were relatively ineffectual, but case events made a considerable difference in processing time. Detroit reforms were effective in reducing case processing time. They included tighter and earlier control over case progress, an increase in individual accountability for case processing speed, improved coordination, and an increase in participants' familiarity with cases. 3 tables, 15 notes, and 46 references.