Clicking a link below will launch the eCollection archive of the article in a new tab.
Once in eCollection, click 
to view the full PDF.
December 2017
Managing High-Profile Cases
Greg Hurley, Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
A high-profile case can push a court’s staff and resources to their limits and beyond. The Managing High-Profile Cases in the 21st Century website provides the resources a court needs to meet this challenge.
November 2017
Women and Girls in the Justice System
Deborah Smith, Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
Both the juvenile-justice and adult-criminal-justice systems were developed with men and boys in mind. While girls and women are a smaller percentage of the justice system population, they have different histories and needs that must be addressed.
October 2017
The Risks and Rewards of Risk Assessments
Phillip Knox, Principal Consultant of KSA Consulting, LLC
Peter Keifer, Civil Court Administrator, Maricopa Superior Court, Arizona
In 2015 we asked court professionals from around the world to assess the probability that predictive technology would move courts to become preventive rather than reactive; courts would start preventing things from happening before they happened. A hallmark of America’s judicial system is that it is both independent and reactive.
September 2017
Maintaining Court Operations When Disaster Strikes: Emergency Powers
William Raftery, Senior Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
What happens when a courthouse is rendered unusable following a man-made or natural disaster? Many states have started to grant special powers to chief justices and court leadership to help courts meet these challenges.
August 2017
What Judges Need to Know About the Neurobiology of Sexual Assault
Deborah Smith, Senior Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
The human body reacts to sexual assault in often contradictory ways. Understanding the effect of trauma on the brain and body can help judges to understand the reactions of victims.
July 2017
The Work of the National Task Force on Fines, Fees and Bail Practices
Hon. Maureen O' Hara, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio
Laurie K. Dudgeon Director, Administrative Office of the Courts, Kentucky
The purpose of the National Task Force on Fines, Fees and Bail Practices is to develop policies that promote the fair, efficient enforcement of the law; ensure no citizen is denied access to justice based on race or lack of economic resources; and promote fairness and transparency in handling legal financial obligations.
June 2017
Local Experimentation and the Evolving Role of the Civil Judge
essica K. Steinberg, Associate Professor of Criminal Law and Director, Prisoner and Reentry Clinic, George Washington University Law School
Courts are being challenged by rising numbers of self-represented litigants, who are often not ready to present their cases. The District of Columbia’s Housing Conditions Court presents one possible model of what role judges can play to improve access to justice for such litigants.
May 2017
Claudia Lopez, Knowledge and Information Services, National Center for State Courts
A homeless court is a problem-solving court for handling minor offenses. These courts emphasize the treatment and rehabilitation of homeless offenders.
April 2017
Secondary or Vicarious Trauma Among Judges and Court Personnel
Deborah Wood Smith, Senior Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
Judges and other court staff may be at risk of suffering from secondary or vicarious trauma. There are strategies for building resilience that can help individuals deal with this issue.
March 2017
The Trouble with Eyewitness-Identification Testimony in Criminal Cases
Greg Hurley, Knowledge and Information Services Analyst, National Center for State Courts
Research has found that eyewitness-identification testimony can be very unreliable. Law enforcement and the courts should follow the recommendations of social scientists when using and assessing eyewitness techniques, such as lineups, in criminal cases.
February 2017
Opioid Epidemic and the Courts
Michelle White, Principal Court Consultant, National Center for State Courts
Tara Kunkel, Principal Court Consultant, National Center for State Courts; Senior Fellow, Bureau of Justice Assistance
Opioid abuse has been steadily increasing in the United States. State courts must partner with other organizations to confront this epidemic.
January 2017
Courts Effectively Deliver Remote Self-Help Services
Stacey Marz, Director, Self-Help Services, Alaska State Court System
Many self-represented litigants are unable to go to the courthouse in person to conduct routine business. Many courts are now providing remote services, which benefit both litigants and court staff.