In 2007, Washington County implemented the Early Case Resolution (ECR) program, which is a significant criminal case and calendar management innovation and resolves 30% of criminal cases including probation violations at (or soon after) arraignment. While the ECR program has been overwhelmingly positive, it has also created new court management challenges, as release hearings for pretrial detainees have increased and are crowding the criminal arraignment docket. The timing and purpose of criminal pretrial conferences needs to be reevaluated as fewer cases are resolving at pretrial conferences and some cases (such as DUI or domestic violence) rarely resolve and don’t appear to benefit from judicial attention at pretrial conferences.
Please check the box next to the following questions if the answer is 'yes'.
Please enter the applicable Event Date if there is an Event associated with this TTA.
When entering an Event Date, the Time is also required.
If the TTA is targeted to a particular audience or location, please complete the questions below.
Milestones are an element, activity, work product, or key task associated with completing the TTA (e.g. kick-off meeting, collect data from stake holders, deliver initial data analysis).
Please complete the fields below, if applicable, to create a milestone for this TTA.
Please respond to the Performance Metrics below. The Performance Metrics questions are based on the TTA Type indicated in the General Information section of the TTA.
Please submit a signed letter of support from your agency’s executive or other senior staff member. The letter can be emailed to or uploaded with this request. The letter should be submitted on official letterhead and include the following information:
- General information regarding the request for TTA services, i.e., the who, what, where, when, and why.
- The organizational and/or community needs specific to the request for TTA services.
- The benefits or anticipated outcomes from the receipt of TTA services.
By submitting this application to BJA NTTAC, I understand that upon approval of this application for TTA, the requestor agrees to keep BJA NTTAC informed of any circumstances that may impact the delivery of the TTA, including changes in the date of the event, event cancellation, or difficulties communicating with the assigned TTA provider.
Please call [site:phone] if you need further assistance completing this application.
7/5/12 sent email info and also assessment time request to Mr. Moellmer. He emailed the cover letter already. 7/6/12 conducted assessment call with Mr Moellmer and 4 other judges. 7/11 Judge Moellmer forwarded me data letter to include in app package to BJA. RFP was issued for work and none of the providers the request was sent to responded to the RFP. Requester made decision to seek support elsewhere. Request is being closed.
a:28:{s:32:"field_what_event_has_occurred_th";s:44:"High caseload (see application/cover letter)";s:32:"field_what_do_you_want_to_achiev";s:218:"• Improving the certainty and credibility of case scheduling systems;
• Focusing court processes on cases involving pretrial detainees; and
• Reevaluating the timing and purpose of criminal pretrial conferences";s:32:"field_what_will_happen_if_this_n";s:178:"If need is not addressed, they will continue to do the best they can with limited resources, but they will miss opportunities to do things better with respect to the civil cases.";s:32:"field_what_is_the_gap_between_wh";s:154:"Lack of strategy or process in place to organize things differently to handle criminal cases more effectively to free up time to address more civil cases.";s:32:"field_do_you_have_any_data_to_su";s:149:"The court has data re; filing, resolution, and timing. Have attached some data to this TTA application package. Also partner agencies also have data.";s:32:"field_have_there_been_previous_a";s:199:"Yes about 10 years ago American university came to look at a similar issue (not identical) but the challenges still remain. Cover letter refers to the technical assistance report dated November 1999.";s:32:"field_have_you_sought_tta_before";s:3:"No.";s:32:"field_who_will_assume_leadership";s:100:"Kirsten Thompson – Presiding judge
Richard Moellmer – Presiding judge and court administrator
";s:32:"field_how_did_you_learn_about_nt";s:177:"10 years ago they had an American University technical assistance, and when one of the judges went back to American University, Carolyn Cooper referred them back to BJA for TTA.";s:32:"field_what_are_your_organization";s:428:"They have a strong docket management practices system, and have maintained it despite declining resources. On a statewide system they are getting ready to adopt electronic management system (E-court) and they want to make sure they are up to speed. They have good communication with regards to all the stakeholders. Also have an innovative program called ECR, which they grew themselves and they have a history of innovation.";s:32:"field_what_are_organization_s_we";s:150:"They have resource issues both with number of judges, and also have taken deep budget cuts that have resulted in loss of administrative/support staff.";s:32:"field_what_opportunities_does_th";s:246:"Implementation of E-Court results in more opportunities for more person-based case management instead of case-based. Very flexible staff, 14 judges that service over 535,000 – so there is a great opportunity to implement changes due to agility.";s:32:"field_what_are_the_challenges_th";s:113:"None, they have community partners and stakeholders that are aware they are seeking this and are very supportive.";s:32:"field_how_will_this_technical_as";s:159:"In the era of resource reduction, make sure that self-represented litigants get the same customer service as criminal cases –they are not as highly visible. ";s:32:"field_what_is_your_overarching_g";s:200:"Better use of existing resources, meaningful and earlier opportunities to resolve cases. More responsive docket so they can resolve cases efficiently and effectively, eliminate crowding in the jails.";s:32:"field_please_list_at_least_two_o";s:238:"1) Improving certainty and credibility of case scheduling systems.
2) Evaluating timing and purpose of criminal pretrial conferences.
3) Develop a strategy to resolve civil cases in a timely fashion in light of heavy criminal case load.";s:32:"field_as_a_result_of_this_tta_wh";s:81:"Have civil cases be resolved in a shorter amount of time than they are currently.";s:32:"field_who_will_be_participating_";s:39:"1) Kirsten Thompson
2) William Moeller";s:32:"field_what_do_participants_need_";s:77:"Having a better way to communicate availability of resources to stakeholders.";s:32:"field_what_activities_experience";s:3:"N/A";s:32:"field_who_supports_you_in_this_e";s:135:"District Attorney’s office (they offered to share their statistics and info)
Parole and Probation
Office of Public Defense Services";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_i";s:177:"District Attorney’s office (they offered to share their statistics and info)
Parole and Probation
Office of Public Defense Services
Prosecutor
Law Enforcement
Defense Bar";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_p";s:125:"There may be a situation where State Court Administrator would want to be provided with what they come up with (TTA results).";s:32:"field_who_are_key_stakeholders_o";s:3:"N/A";s:32:"field_how_open_are_the_key_stake";s:17:"Willing and open.";s:32:"field_are_there_any_local_govern";s:133:"Local- Washington County Administrators office
Elected officials: sheriff and district attorney
Office of State Court Administrator";s:32:"field_how_will_your_organization";s:3:"N/A";s:32:"field_what_other_resources_do_yo";s:128:"In the past they have always made staff support available for these efforts (computer, case files, meeting space, admin support)";}