Introduction

The court statistic most frequently used in examining the work of trial courts and planning funding and staffing is the number of filings. But in both family and juvenile courts, filings are inadequate indicators of workload for many reasons. Family and juvenile cases may stay in the system for years, returning frequently for new services and new hearings. Many cases need auxiliary services. When working with families and children, the quality of the services is also of great concern. These cases are almost always complex and extremely varied. The purpose of this workload assessment project is to develop accurate models of workload for court services provided in family and juvenile courts.

Family and Juvenile Court Workload Assessment Services

Court executive officers and administrators charged with overseeing family and juvenile court services need a method to accurately assess the work of those court sections. The models of workload that this project will develop in collaboration with court personnel will provide data necessary to determining future needs for funds and staff.

Family and Juvenile Court Workload Assessment Services Research

The workload assessment project begins with ethnographic data collection from a large sample of courts to lay the basis for the workload model. Project staff members are interviewing directors of court services and key staff to document the stream of services in each court. How do cases come to family or juvenile court services? What happens at each stage? The interviews attempt to track cases and events, noting all staff involvement and looking for often-overlooked, unmeasured events and activities.

Based on these interviews, and in collaboration with the Family and Juvenile Court Workload Assessment Working Group, a model of court services’ workload will be built. As part of this model project staff will attempt to identify the components of quality service and create guidelines for time standards for quality service.

Please contact CFCC@jud.ca.gov for more information.