Evaluating Early Case Resolution in Spokane County Superior Court

• In Event: Court Efficiency and Innovative Strategies

Abstract

In this article, we evaluate the impact of the Early Case Resolution program (ECR) implemented in Spokane County Superior Court in Washington State in 2009. One of the foundations of our criminal justice system is the quick resolution of criminal cases is vital to carrying out justice. However, the problem of court delay, defined here as excessive case processing time, has plagued the criminal court system in the United States for many decades. Excessive case processing time ties up court schedules and resources, increases the number of pretrial detainees, and leaves defendants and crime victims languishing without resolution. Spokane County Superior Court uses ECR in an attempt to reduce case processing time by expediting the plea bargaining process for defendants with Class B and Class C felony charges. Our analysis evaluates whether this program has been effective in reducing case processing time by comparing cases disposed using ECR to non-ECR cases disposed in the traditional manner. Our findings have implications for the future of the ECR program in Spokane County and will provide insight for the implementation and evaluation of similar programs across the country aimed at reducing court delay.

Author

• Lauren M. Block, Washington State University