Research and Planning

The Planning and Research Division serves the courts by providing information, analysis, support and consulting services to Judicial and other government officials and the public so they can have timely and accurate recommendations and the means and methods to improve the quality of justice delivered to the citizens of Georgia.

Research and Judicial Workload

AOC Research staff conducts the annual case count for the Superior Courts. State legislators use this data to decide whether to create more judgeships and a budget for the extra personnel and facilities that go with new positions. The data is analyzed to identify trends, changing demographics and other factors that affect the administration of justice. The staff also responds to requests for statistical information from judges and other court personnel. In addition, it undertakes an annual survey of court personnel salaries.

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Planning and Business Process: Policy Studies

Emergency Preparedness:

The Administrative Office of the Courts recognizes the need for all courts in Georgia to engage in emergency preparedness planning. In order to facilitate courts towards this end, the AOC has compiled several useful online tools to guide courts in their planning process. Below please find links to useful information about planning including check lists, salvaging techniques, and links to other courts’ emergency preparedness plans.

Security and the Courts: A Resource Guide – The National Center for State Courts

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity - The National Center for State Courts

Emergency Preparedness in State Courts – discussion of the importance of planning to courts

COOP Planning Guide

Natural Disaster:

Conserve O Grams – scroll down to the bottom of the page to view useful information on disaster response and recovery

Georgia Archives – useful information on planning, recovery, and checklists

FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency

GEMA – Georgia Emergency Management Agency

Louisiana Disaster Recovery Template – example of a plan

Arizona Judicial Council Preparing for the Unthinkable – example of a plan

King County Washington Emergency Operations Plan – example of a plan

Keep the Courts Open – power point presentation on the importance of being prepared

Planning in Dependency Courts

Pandemic Flu:

Georgia Pandemic Flu Bench Guide

Privacy and Pandemic Flu Guide – Report from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials

U.S. Pandemic Flu – U.S. Government’s Pandemic Flu tracking and informational website

Worldwide Pandemic Flu – Worldwide Pandemic Flu tracking and informational website

CDC Preparedness for Pandemic Flu

Georgia Division of Public Health Pandemic Flu Standard Operating Plan

Florida State Courts Strategy for Pandemic Flu – example of a plan

Pennsylvania Public Health Law Bench Book

Indiana Public Health Law Bench Book

Tools:

Pandemic Flu Planning Kit

System Identification Template

Computer Equipment Inventory Template

Data Center Inventory Template

Employee List Template

Employee Relative Template

Key Personnel Template

Policy Inventory Template

Succession Order – example of a succession order that could be issued by a judge

CourTools:

CourTools is a set of ten trial court performance measures that offers court managers a balanced perspective on court operations. In designing the CourTools, the National Center integrated the major performance areas defined by the Trial Court Performance Standards with relevant concepts from successful performance measurement systems used in the public and private sectors.

Published in a visual and accessible how-to format, the ten CourTools measures: