Vol. 6, No.
4 - Fall 2003
New Publication
Offers Courts the Best in Emergency Management
Emergency
management has long been a concern to courts, but following the terrorist acts
of Sept. 11, 2001, the focus sharpened dramatically. In response to this
increased concern, the Best Practices Institute of the National Center for State
Courts recently published a paper titled “Emergency Management for Courts.”
To get a copy of the publication, visit the National Center’s online bookstore
at www.ncsconline.org. Select
Publications from the menu to go to the bookstore. The paper also is available
for free by downloading from the NCSC Web site.
“Emergency
Management for the Courts,” which was vetted by five experts in court safety,
identifies practices that courts should consider as first steps to preparing
their emergency management plan. Understanding that state budgets are tight,
Best Practices staff made special efforts to outline steps that can be
implemented without significant expense. Each step includes examples of how the
practice can be carried out and resources for further information.
Examples
of the steps include:
-
Ensure visible
court leadership
-
Survey and
Prioritize emergency management needs
-
Develop a plan to
communicate internally
-
Don’t let
resources prevent planning
The Best Practices Institute
identifies and promotes practices that enhance the effective administration of
justice. The Institute was created by the boards of the Conference of Chief
Justices, the Conference of State Court Administrators, and the National Center
following the 1999 National Conference on Public Trust and Confidence in the
Justice System. During the conference, participants expressed the need for
a national effort to identify and champion best practices from across the
country as part of a strategy to improve court performance and better serve the
public.
Work
is guided by an advisory board of chief justices, state court administrators, a
court manager, a presiding judge, and a legal scholar. Vermont Chief Justice
Jeffrey L. Amestoy currently chairs the board. The Institute provides a central
resource where state courts can turn to obtain the best ideas and practices
being carried out in judicial administration.
For
more information on the Best Practices Institute, click on QuickLinks at www.ncsconline.org.
“Emergency
Management for Courts” is the first in a new series of National Center
publications designed to provide concise, practical information to courts on a
wide range of topics. Also new and now available is “Developing a Domestic
Violence Policy for the Workplace.” Look for “Expediting Dependency
Appeals” due out later this year.
For
a complete list of National Center publications, go to www.ncsconline.org
and select Publications from the main menu. Many NCSC publications are available
for free, downloaded from  .
Stay
up-to-date with the latest from NCSC!
Best practices
compiled by NCSC's Best Practices Institute ($5)
The first in a new
series of National Center publications designed to provide concise,
practical information to courts on a wide range of topics. It
identifies practices that courts should consider as first steps to
preparing their emergency management plan. Each step includes
examples of how the practice can be carried out and resources for further
information.
A manual by
NCSC's Family Violence Community of Practice ($10)
This manual
provides step-by-step advice on creating a domestic violence policy,
resources, and information on staff training. "Despite growing
awareness of domestic violence as a complex problem, the courts and
justice agencies, as employers, often fail to recognize the effects of
violence in the home involving their own staff. The development of
workplace policies, in combination with staff training, can improve the
workplace response and save lives," said Brenda Uekert, NCSC Senior
Court Research Associate.
Expediting
Dependency Appeals
COMING
SOON!
This is the second
edition of a step-by-step guide on how courts can speed up the resolution
of appeals involving society's most helpless group—dependent
children. In the guide's preface, the author writes, "We hope
that state courts and those who are dedicated to ensuring permanency for
children will find this second edition helpful in reducing the time
children spend in limbo before crossing the threshold into permanent
homes."
Contact:
National
Center for State Courts
Fulfillment Department
P.O. Box 580
Williston, VT 05495-0580
(888) 228-6272
e-mail:
ncsc.orders@aidcvt.com
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