Procedural Fairness Assessment: Instrument For Court Leadership

Every court has strengths that it can build on to enhance users' perceptions of procedural fairness. This instrument is designed to help assess current capacity and highlight areas for ongoing attention. Each section is self contained and can be scored separately. All questions in a section should be completed using the scale provided where 1 equals "not at all" and 4 equals "always/almost always."

To score each section, simply total the responses. For each section the scores can be interpreted as follows:

  • 5-9: Procedural fairness in this area is relatively weak and could be improved using recommendations listed under "implement today."

  • 10-15: Procedural fairness is developing in this area and could be strengthened using recommendations listed under "implement today" and "implement this year."

  • 16-20: Procedural fairness is strong in this area. Court should consider visionary planning using the initiatives suggested under "set as a long-term goal" and should consider making court available as a model for other courts to visit, as a mentor court, and as a case study that can be documented.

Complete only the sections relevant to your court.

 

I. The Courthouse

Section Scores 

 
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II. The Court Venue

 

 
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III. The Court User

 

 
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Instructions

Begin with I: The Courthouse. Click the 'Accessing the Court' link and answer the five questions provided. When finished, go on to complete the next section. Your score will be automatically totaled as you complete each section and can be interpreted according to the scoring guide above.

Complete each category in the same manner. You may return to any section to change your answers as long as you leave this window open. When finished, you may save your report to your computer, print it, or request an email with the responses. Your score is anonymous; this assessment should take about 30 minutes to complete.

Ideally you will complete the assessment twice, once before the in-person session at your spring conference and webinar to be held in September, and once after those events. Keep your score so you can decide if changes you make to improve procedural fairness affect your scores.

         Start the Assessment

 

The California Administrative Office of the Courts and the Center for Court Innovation developed this assessment. It is made available to you through a grant from the State Justice Institute. The full report and recommendations can be seen here.

  

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