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Measure
2.2.2: Provision of Services
This
measure seeks information on the time required to provide services to
appropriate individuals. For this measure, three types of services have been
identified: (1) indigent defense services, (2) interpreter services, and (3)
mental health evaluations. Others could be added or substituted to reflect
the services of concern to a particular jurisdiction. A similar process
could be used to assess functions such as issuing marriage licenses,
handling passport applications, or processing name changes.
Planning/Preparation.
This measure begins with a review of the procedures used to initiate the
following services and the identification of any statutory, case law, or
policy requirements that mandate a timeframe within which they must be
provided: interpreter services (foreign language and/or hearing impaired),
indigent defense services, and mental evaluations. For each service area,
first identify the individual with responsibility for coordinating delivery
of services. Next, identify the aggregate or individual records that are
maintained concerning requests for and the provision of each service. This
background information can be gathered through interviews with the court
manager.
Data
Collection. For
each service to be evaluated, draw a sample of cases using that service. The
samples for each service should contain no less than 100 cases or 20 percent
of the cases (whichever is larger) to allow valid and reliable inferences
regarding payment patterns. For each sample, use Form
2.2.2a, Provision of Services Data Collection Form, to gather data to
measure the time required to provide the service. Examples of the data
elements for three types of services include:
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Presentence
investigations—date ordered, date staff assigned to investigation, date
completed, and date filed with the court.
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Indigent
defense counsel—date indigent defense ordered by court and date counsel
was assigned.
-
Criminal
or mental health evaluations—date evaluation was ordered, date evaluator
was designated, date evaluation was conducted, and date of report to court.
Data
Analysis and Report Preparation.
The basic analytical task is to compute the
length of time taken to initiate service provision; the elapsed time to
initial service provision; the elapsed time from court order to initial
service provision; and, for services for which a report must be filed with
the court (e.g., mental health evaluations, home studies) the elapsed time
to file reports with the court. National standards such as the American Bar
Association Standards Relating to Trial Courts and Standards for Criminal
Justice (Form 2.2.2b, Checklist of
Services Required in ABA Standards) or State guidelines can be used as
benchmarks. For example, if the standards prescribe that services are to be
provided in 10 calendar days, a measure of the court’s performance is how
many cases exceed the 10-day time limit. The smaller the percentage, the
better is the court’s performance.
Go
to Form 2.2.2
Go
to Standard 2.2
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