Many Americans will be or are involved in state courts via domestic relations cases (e.g. divorce, separation, child custody, child support, etc.). Many states are reporting increases in these types of cases, along with increases in litigants who are representing themselves. While the state courts, Access to Justice Commissions, and other key stakeholders are beginning …
Read MoreEarlier this year, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) conducted two focus groups, one specifically focused on privacy policies and the other on automated redaction. The product of these focus groups is a white paper titled, “Best Practices for Court Privacy Policy Formulation.” Prepared with support from SJI, the document outlines how privacy policies …
Read MoreEarlier this month, SJI Vice Chair Daniel Becker was among five state court professionals inducted into the Warren E. Burger Society. Burger Society membership is reserved for individuals who have volunteered their time, talent, and support to the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) in exceptional ways. Mr. Becker worked for the North Carolina Administrative …
Read MoreThe October 2017 edition of Trends: Close Up, provides useful information to help courts plan, prepare for, and recover after a disaster. In addition to natural disasters like hurricanes, the article covers other areas of emergency preparedness such as widespread grid damage, pandemics, and terrorist attacks. The key considerations in all disaster scenarios center on: …
Read MoreSJI recently released the Grant Guideline for FY 2018. The Grant Guideline appears as part of the National Archives and Records Administration’s Federal Register, and sets forth the administrative, programmatic, and financial requirements for applying for and administering SJI grants. Fiscal Year 2018 Deadlines for Project, Technical Assistance, and Curriculum Adaptation Grants are as follows: 1st …
Read MoreA new brief by the National Center for State Courts’ Center for Sentencing Initiatives, funded in part by The Pew Charitable Trusts, addresses evidence-based sentencing (EBS) as part of a comprehensive sentencing policy for probation-eligible felony offenders. Intended for a judicial audience, the brief: defines evidence-based sentencing; explains what risk and needs assessment (RNA) instruments …
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