U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Envisioning Justice: Reinventing the Courts for the 21st Century

NCJ Number
150226
Author(s)
C Bezold; J A Dator; J McIntosh
Date Published
1992
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video guides viewers in the process of "visioning" to reshape courts in innovative ways.
Abstract
"Vision" is defined as "an active process that excites people to act, to create, and to innovate." The video's introduction features clips of provocative comments by both futures/visioning professionals and judicial professionals on the need for direction in the face of change and on vision as an innovative approach to improving the judicial system. The second section introduces vision as "a powerful tool to help articulate a preferred future." Experts underscore this definition, which is followed by four examples: the program to land a man on the moon, Turner's vision of a global cable news network, Chief Justice Warren Burger's vision of a better judicial system, and New Orleans' Metrovision community revitalization project. The third section reviews scenarios, emerging issues, and trends of change. Examples of emerging trends that could alter the U.S. justice system are automated expert systems and legal software in the courts, alternative sentencing and correction techniques, the pressures of increasing cultural diversity, increased interest in total quality management, and the "holographic courthouse." The fourth segment focuses on creating a shared vision. Examples are drawn from the project's vision workshops designed for Florida's sixth judicial circuit and for the Oregon State courts. The final section re-emphasizes the definition of vision and its usefulness in getting people to work together in thinking more creatively about current problems and possible solutions.

Downloads

No download available

Availability