LEAA'S COURT MANAGEMENT PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED IN 1977 TO PROVIDE TRIAL COURT MANAGERS--BOTH JUDGES AND STAFFS--WITH A MANAGEMENT REPORT SERIES ADDRESSING CRITICAL AREAS OF WORKLOAD AND RESOURCES, IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE FINANCIAL, PERSONNEL, AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT. THE FIRST SECTION OF THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT REPORT DISCUSSES THE OVERALL CONTEXT IN WHICH RECORDS MANAGEMENT IS PERFORMED AND, PARTICULARLY, THE VARIETY OF MATERIALS WHICH CONSTITUTE A COURT RECORD (I.E., CASE FILES, MICROFILM, COMPUTER PRINTOUTS, VIDEO DISPLAYS, AND OTHER EXHIBITS). THE NEED TO MANAGE THESE RECORDS DURING THE COURSE OF THEIR LIFE CYCLE IS DESCRIBED IN THE FOUR STAGES OF A RECORD'S LIFESPAN: INTAKE AND INITIATION; MAINTENANCE; ACCESS, USE, AND DISTRIBUTION; AND DISPOSITION. SOME OF THE DISTINCTIVE FACTORS WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN DEVELOPING A COURT RECORDS PROGRAM ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH RECORDS MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES IN OTHER SECTORS WHICH HAVE RELEVANCE TO COURTS. THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS DISCUSS THE BASIC RECORDS MAINTAINED BY A COURT, SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO THE MAINTENANCE OF CASE FILES, GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING A COURT'S RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, AND PLANNING FOR IMPROVEMENT. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. SEE ALSO NCJ 53624, 53623, AND 52653.