NCSC: Research: Trial Court Performance Standards

Trial Court Perforrmance Standards & Measurement System

Suggested Steering Committee Activities for Standard 4.2

The steering committee should receive three reports to review with the help of the facilitator. Each of the reports should include explicit or implied findings regarding performance or recommendations for changes. The focus of the steering committee review should be on prioritizing the level of policy concern the reports engender (evaluation of findings or problems) and the feasibility of taking action with respect to them (action planning).

Usefulness of Statistics for Resource Allocation Planning

Evaluation:

Do the court’s statistical case types give us a clear picture of how workload and resources are related?
What changes in case type categories are needed, if any?

Action:

What changes to statistical case types appear feasible in the next 12 months? 24 months?

Organization and Resource Allocation

Evaluation:

Do the reports indicate that the court may be overstaffed in some areas and understaffed in others?
Do there appear to be other reasons to reevaluate the way the court organizes its judicial assignments and operations staff?
What changes should be made?

Action:

What changes in the way personnel are assigned to case categories appear feasible in the next 12 months? 24 months?

Auditing

Evaluation:

Do the reports indicate that changes are needed in the court’s auditing procedures or fiscal controls?
What changes should be made?

Action:

What changes could be made in the court’s auditing practices or fiscal controls in the next 12 months? 24 months?

Go to Standard 4.2

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