THE FUND FOR MODERN COURTS, INC. IS SPONSORING A PROGRAM OF COURT MONITORING THAT IS FUNDED BY THE N.Y. STATE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED AS THE FIRST HALF OF A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM TO UTILIZE TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO MONITOR AND REPORT ON THE TRIAL PROCESS WITHIN SELECTED COURTS IN NEW YORK STATE. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ARE BEING INITIATED IN FOUR AREAS - NEW YORK CITY, ROCHESTER (UPSTATE URBAN), GLENS FALLS (UPSTATE RURAL), AND POUGHKEEPSIE (MIXED). THE GOALS ARE: 1) COLLECTING AND EVALUATING DATA ON FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE AND 2) DEVELOPING A UNIVERSAL MODEL FOR CITIZENS TO USE IN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN MONITORING THEIR COURTS. THIS MANUAL INCLUDES SUCH REFERENCE INFORMATION AS A LIST OF OFFENSES AND CRIMES FOUND IN THE PENAL LAW, AN OUTLINE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS FROM ARREST AND TRIAL THROUGH SENTENCING, AN OUTLINE OF DEFENDANT'S RIGHTS, A DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE OF THE PROSECUTOR AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY, AND A GLOSSARY OF LEGAL AND COURT TERMS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)