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4
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THE COMBINED LIST SHOULD BE PROCESSED THROUGH A NATIONAL CHANGE OF ADDRESS PROGRAM IN ORDER TO OBTAIN UPDATED ADDRESS INFORMATION BEFORE MAILING.
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In addition to standardizing addresses on the source list databases (see Recommendation 3), the merged database should be run through the National Change of Address (NCOA) program. This step would be performed before the source list is sent to each county.
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Undeliverable
Rates Will Drop
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NCOA charges are based on the number of “hits” on a list. This means that a clean list will cost almost nothing to process. A list that has many out-of-date addresses will cost more to process, but costs will be recouped because undeliverable rates will drop. This will save staff time, postage, and supply costs because the resulting improved data will avoid summoning people that have moved out of the county.
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Pilot Project Assessing Benefits Versus Costs
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This proposal would result in a transfer of cost from the counties to the state as the costs of the NCOA process would be paid by the state, but the savings would accrue to the counties. The Commission recommends a pilot project to assess costs and benefits for this process. The Office of the Administrator for the Courts should request additional funding in the source list budget for this project.
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Additional Lists
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Courts should be given the authority to refer to additional lists at the local level in order to correct master source list addresses for the purpose of mailing summonses. Reference to additional lists may lead to the input of more current address information into the system, which would lead to more representative jury pools and a better response rate. Among the additional lists to be considered are those for unemployment compensation recipients and newly naturalized citizens.
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