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COMPUTERIZED COURT DESIGN FOR LAFAYETTE (LA) DISTRICT COURT

NCJ Number
48173
Date Published
1975
Length
164 pages
Annotation
THE SYSTEM DESIGN PHASE OF A PROJECT DESIGNED TO IMPLEMENT AN AUTOMATED CRIMINAL COURT MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, DISTRICT COURT IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE PILOT PROJECT WILL BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO PERMIT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM IN OTHER METROPOLITAN PARISHES WITH ONLY MINOR MODIFICATION. THE DESIGN PHASE INCLUDED A COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS FOR THE PROPOSED SYSTEM, EVALUATION OF VARIOUS AUTOMATED SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES AND OVERALL SYSTEM DESIGN, AND SPECIFICATION OF AN INTEGRATED COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT. THE REQUIREMENTS ANALYSIS STAGE EMPHASIZED LOCAL CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING NEEDS, AND INFORMATIONAL REQUIREMENTS AT BOTH THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL. THOROUGH DOCUMENTATION OF CASE FLOW PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION REQUIREMENT PROVIDED A FOUNDATION FOR THE SUBSEQUENT ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM DESIGN TASKS. EVALUATION OF A VARIETY OF SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES PRODUCED THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS: (1) A 5 YEAR COST COMPARISON OF A STAND-ALONE COMPUTER CONFIGURATION AND A SHARED COMPUTER CONFIGURATION INDICATED THE SHARED CONFIGURATION TO BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE; (2) A SEARCH FOR EXISTING COMPUTER SYSTEMS WHICH COULD BE ADOPTED OR ADAPTED YIELDED NO RESULTS AMONG CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEMS, BUT DID DISCOVER A HIGHLY CAPABLE, ALTHOUGH UNDER-UTILIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM AVAILABLE ON THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE COMPUTER; AND (3) AN EVALUATION OF AVAILABLE DATA PROCESSING FACILITIES INDICATED THAT THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE DATA PROCESSING DEPARTMENT WOULD BE THE MOST SUITABLE LOCATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUTOMATED COURT SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM ITSELF WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OFFENDER-BASED TRACKING CAPABILITIES COUPLED WITH EXTENSIVE USER AIDS FOR CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT. THE RESULTING SYSTEM MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR INPUT TO STATE AND FEDERAL SYSTEMS, IS COMPATIBLE WITH CURRENT AND PROJECTED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM AND SUPREME COURT, AND PROVIDES FOR LOCAL AND EXTERNAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAFAYETTE DISTRICT COURT. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM WILL FEATURE AN OUTLINE DATA BASE CONTAINING DETAILED CASE, DEFENDANT, AND STATUS INFORMATION. REAL-TIME DATA INPUT AND DISPLAY USING CRT (CATHODE RAY TUBE) TERMINALS IN THE CLERK OF COURT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY OFFICE AREAS WILL ENABLE UP-TO-DATE DETERMINATION OF STATUS AND INFORMATION ON ANY CASE OR DEFENDANT. FLEXIBLE INQUIRY AND SCREEN DISPLAY CAPABILITIES WILL REDUCE DELAYS AND ENSURE A MORE ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM. DETAILED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS AND INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS ARE INCLUDED. DESCRIPTIONS OF MANUAL DATA FILES IN USE IN CASE PROCESSING OPERATIONS, AND DATA ELEMENTS TAKEN FROM CRIMINAL COURT DOCUMENTS ARE ALSO APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED - JAP)