State of the judicial branch in Maricopa County

              State of the Judicial Branch In Maricopa County

Honorable Barbara Rodriguez Mundell Presiding Judge Office of the Presiding Judge Office of the Court Administrator



Committed to the Timely, Fair and Impartial Administration of Justice.



September 2006



Introduction

The programs and services included in this report on the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County represent the collective work of the Court's judges, commissioners, administrators, probation and court personnel. The Judicial Branch continues to improve services in the areas of public access to court, prompt and affordable justice, and accountability to the citizens. Although the court currently serves 3.7 million county residents, it is also preparing for ongoing unprecedented population growth. Court-wide initiatives completed or in substantial operation Court Departments Family Court Developed and largely implemented a Family Court reform plan with 29 initiatives, including Post Decree Court, a Decree on Demand Program and simplified processes for service to the public Probate/Mental Health Implemented the Comprehensive Mental Health Court, integrating court services for civil and criminal mental health cases Criminal Enhanced criminal case management, including reinstatement of the Continuance Panel (effective September 5, 2006) Juvenile Court Implemented system improvements based upon strategic planning and consulting studies by the National Center for State Courts and the Office of Juvenile Justice Consulting Civil Court Further developed the Complex Litigation Pilot Project and a program evaluation methodology, and added a supporting law clerk



Although the court currently serves 3.7 million county residents, it is also preparing for ongoing unprecedented population growth.



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Court-Wide Initiatives

Public Service New Court Locations Opened the new Northeast Regional Courthouse, with the first co-located Superior and Justice Courts Performance Measures Implemented the National Center for State Courts' CourTools Performance Measurement System, including user exit surveys, employee satisfaction surveys and case management data, which in combination will be displayed court-wide as an electronic dashboard to inform all judges and staff as to progress in performance Outreach Expanded Community Outreach through community forum meetings, publications and television programming Self Service Center Celebrated the ten year anniversary of the Self Service Center, the first self-help program of its scope in the country; over 1,000,000 litigants have been served to date Special Court Counsel - Justice System Planning and Communications New position created to help reduce jail and juvenile justice overcrowding; serve as court liaison to the county, other justice agencies and the Citizens' Jail Oversight Commission and also oversee communications and community outreach



Probation and Detention Services Adult Probation Implemented the evidence based practices (ETBP) initiative utilizing scientific methods to sustain reduced recidivism, established a Pretrial Services Bond Review Unit and acquired security screening at Probation Field Offices Juvenile Probation Increased the number of Community Justice Panels, expanded the Teen Court program, created the investigative supervision probation and dual ward supervision units, launched the Title IV-E (Foster Care) program, implemented a Leadership Development program and developed a Community Resource Unit. Carol Boone was appointed as the new Chief Juvenile Probation Officer. 2



Court-Wide Initiatives

Technology New Court Locations Developed the first county-wide Information Technology Plan encompassing the Superior, Justice and Municipal Courts; Clerk of the Court; and Adult and Juvenile Probation Filing In coordination with the Clerk of Court's Office, EFiling Project expansion to Superior Court civil and criminal cases Case and Cash Management Integrated Court Information System (iCIS) enhancements, including case/cash management system for Justice Courts and the planned JOLTS replacement for juvenile court Courtroom Technology Initial Appearance Court On-line E-Courtrooms Exhibit presentation, video recording and video conferencing systems and real-time reporting On-line Interactive Forms Generation Family Court and Justice Courts Court Personnel Increased Resources Expanded judicial resources with the addition of one new judgeship, four commissioners, several interpreters, and many probation/detention staff and security personnel and division support staff Pay increase Implemented market study pay increases for division staff (e.g., court reporters, bailiffs, judicial assistants), interpreters and court security guards Orientation Established a new two-day New Employee Orientation Program with particular focus on the mission, ethics, and workflow of the court. 3



Electronic Courtrooms Video cameras are activated by sound. Microphones can detect the slightest whisper. Flat screen monitors simplify evidence presentation. Two-way video conferences allow court appearances from other locations around the country.



Future Challenges



Spanish DUI Court Award Winners



Court Services Pending Litigation Spanish DUI Court Jury C h a l l e n g e to proximity summonsing system weighted juror



Night Court P i l o t Projects for Juvenile and Family Court (January 2007) Judicial Formation Expansion of information and services for new judges and outreach to judges with experience through mentoring programs Juvenile Justice Develop graduated sanctions and Community Justice Panels to address violations of juvenile probation and develop additional resources and alternatives to reduce detention overcrowding



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Future Challenges

Administration Facilities Planning To address space needs of the Court: o Downtown Criminal Tower Restorative Justice Center proposal o SE Regional Court Tower (EDC/RCC, Adult/Juvenile Probation and Justice Courts) o One West Madison   Criminal Courts (EDC & RCC) o Conceptual Space Plan for Family Court Restorative Model o Southwest Regional Court (Avondale), San Tan (Chandler), Downtown Justice Center Strategic Planning Development of court-wide plan encompassing public access, timely justice, cultural competency and workforce development Judicial Turnover Retirement of Superior Court judges in 2007; use of paid pro tem judges and incorporation of new judges appointed as replacements Disaster Preparation Disaster and Business Continuity Planning, including alternative court sites and plans for pandemic flu Pay increase Judicial Officer Compensation advocacy Pay Studies Compensation market studies for probation, detention and court management personnel



"This new court structure reinforces our county leaders' philosophy of maximizing the use of public funds by constructing court facilities where the community is well served by multiple programs and services and enhanced accessibility to timely justice," said Presiding Judge Barbara Rodriguez Mundell.



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Commitment to Excellence

Awards for Programs and Services to the Public Spanish DUI Court N a t i o n a l Association of Counties Special Achievement Award Spanish DUI Court Arizona Judicial Branch Achievement Award for "Improving Communication and Cooperation with the Community, Other Branches of Government, and within the Judicial Branch" Spanish DUI Court Governor 's Office of Highway Safety Award Sex Offender Residential Density N a t i o n a l Association of Counties Achievement Award The Sex Offender Program "Showcase in Excellence" Award from the Arizona Quality Alliance The Garfield Community Probation Center Arizona Judicial Branch Achievement Award for "Connecting with the Community" Family Court A r i z o n a Judicial Branch Award for "Protecting Children, Families and Communities" Judicial Formation Program Arizona Judicial Branch Award for "Serving the Public by Improving the Legal Profession" The Education Center Administrative Office of the Courts award as the "LEARN Adult Education Center of the Year" Juvenile Probation Department Phoenix Mayor's Partnership Award for Innovation



Spanish DUI Court, a program to help rehabilitate individuals who drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol, was recognized for "improving communication and cooperation with the community."



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Commitment to Excellence

Awards to Judges Judge Colin F. Campbell "Foundation Justice Award," Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education Judge Ronald S. Reinstein A t t o r n e y General's Distinguished S e r v i c e Award for Victims and Victims' Rights Arizona Judicial Branch Award for " I m p r o v i n g Public Trust and Confidence" Presiding Judge Barbara Rodriguez Mundell Maricopa County Diversity Champion Award



Awards to Court Staff

Presiding Judge Barbara Rodriguez Mundell



Facilities Planning



Probation Officer William J. Harkins III Arizona Judicial Branch Awards for "Employees Being Accountable" United States Marshal's Service Award for "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2005" Adult Probation Supervisor Marilyn Windust Arizona Judicial Branch Achievement Award for "Connecting with the Community"



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Trends: Now and the Future

Fiscal Year 2006 Year Maricopa County Population Case Filings - Superior Court Case Filings - Justice Courts Superior Court Judges Commissioners Justices of the Peace Judicial Branch Staff Adult Probation - Active Probationers Juvenile Probation - Juveniles Referred Total Budget Court and Probation Buildings 3.8 million 157,661 373,935 94 52 23 3,600 30,631 24,499 $224.9 million 52 2015 (projected) 4.8 million 199,125 472,280 122 68 33 4,550 ? ? ? ?



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Limited Jurisdiction Courts

Justice Courts Transitioned to a decentralized organizational structure for staff supervision and administration; extensive operational revisions based on Supreme Court standards, case management training modules and centralized late-payment noticing Municipal Courts Improved DUI case management plans in municipal courts, resulting in a 49% overall reduction in time to final case disposition



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Conclusion



We thank the Supreme Court of Arizona, Arizona State Legislature, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and County Management for their support of our courts. With their help, the Judicial Branch in Maricopa County is committed to maintain quality justice, increase fairness and access for all, and continue to build public trust and confidence. For Further Information On-line services available through the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, see www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov. See also, the Judicial Branch Annual Statistical Report (FY 05), www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/publicInfo/reports.



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