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December 2016
State Court Law Libraries Address Access to Justice
Dana Deseck-Piazzon, Librarian, Knowledge and Information Services, National Center for State Courts
State court law libraries are well positioned to help improve public trust and confidence in the courts. In the following interviews, we see how two state law libraries, Texas and Minnesota, demonstrate leadership and innovation with Web site redesigns and expanded services facilitating access to justice
November 2016
Attracting IT Talent Is a Challenge for Courts
Jarret Hann, Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
Courts face challenges in hiring and retaining IT professionals. What are courts doing to compete with the usually higher salaries offered by the private sector?
October 2016
Election 2016 and the Judiciary
William Raftery, Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
In a presidential election year, it is easy to lose sight of down-ballot items that have implications for state courts. This November, states will ask voters to decide initiatives involving judicial discipline and retirement.
September 2016
Service Animals and the Courts
Deborah Wood Smith, Senior Analyst, Knowledge and Information Services, National Center for State Courts
The Americans with Disabilities Act provides for the use of service animals, but not “emotional-support” animals. What provisions must courts make when members of the public or employees request to bring a service or emotional - support animal to court?
August 2016
New Hampshire Integrates Its Criminal Justice System Online
Carole Alfano, Public Information Officer, New Hampshire Judicial Branch
New Hampshire has launched a program integrating all components of the state’s criminal justice system — the Justice-One Network Environment (J-ONE). The program’s goal is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the state’s criminal justice agencies and to make all criminal justice data available electronically to authorized members.
July 2016
Recent Sentencing Reform Initiatives to Reduce Recidivism, Promote Fairness, and Control Costs
Roger K. Warren, President Emeritus, National Center for State Courts
Faced with increasing crime rates in the mid-1970s, federal and state policymakers implemented increasingly punitive and ineffective criminal-sentencing policies. This article highlights recent state and federal sentencing reform initiatives to address the consequences and failures of those sentencing policies.
June 2016
Blake P. Kavanagh, Information Specialist, Knowledge and Information Services, National Center for State Courts
Low-level crimes at events that draw large numbers of people can be a headache for courts and law enforcement. Pop -up courts offer a potential solution.
May
Body Worn Cameras and the Current State of the Law Regarding Lost or Destroyed Evidence
Greg Hurley, Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
Many law-enforcement officers use body-worn cameras to record their interactions with the public. These devices can be beneficial, but they also raise issues regarding the handling of evidence.
April 2016
A Proactive Approach to Self-Assessment in the Juvenile Justice System
Mark A. Ingram, Magistrate Judge, State of Idaho, and Statewide Juvenile Justice Judge, Idaho Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Court and Kari L. Harp, Project Director, Probation System Review, Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice
The juvenile justice system involves many participants beyond the courts, such as schools and child protective services. This article discusses how courts are uniquely positioned to lead the charge for reforming this multifaceted system and ensuring positive outcomes for juveniles.
March 2016
The Court Leader as "Internal Consultant
Janet G. Cornell, Court Consultant and Former Court Administrator
What skills do court leaders need to respond to new challenges or establish new programs? Court administrators may find it useful to acquire the skills that a consultant brings to a project.
February 2016
Increasing or Repealing Mandatory Judicial Retirement Ages
William E. Raftery, Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
There has been growing interest in increasing or repealing mandatory judicial retirement ages in the states.Voters, however, have not been keen on such measures.
January 2016
The Constitutionality of Bond Schedules
Greg Hurley, Senior Knowledge Management Analyst, Knowledge and Information Services, National Center for State Courts
A number of jurisdictions use bond schedules to establish the monetary amount of bonds for criminal defendants, but there have been lawsuits challenging this practice as unconstitutional. The article discusses bond schedules, the constitutional argument against them, and why courts should consider discontinuing this practice.