In 1972 the median time interval for those 50 districts which experienced increases in 1973 ranged from less than a month, 0.9 (W. Texas) to 10.4 months for New Jersey. In 1973 the range was from 2.0 median months in Northern Oklahoma to 13.0 months in New Jersey. These 50 districts had a median which averaged 3.7 months in 1972 which rose to 4.5 months in 1973 or 0.8 month longer to dispose of a criminal defendant. Table 5b shows 40 districts which either experienced a decrease or had no change in the overall median from filing to disposition. The range in medians in 1972 was 0.8 for Western Virginia to a high of 8.2 months for Western Louisiana. In 1973 the range was again from a low of 0.8 for Western Virginia to a high of 5.2 months for Western Wisconsin. Western Louisiana had reduced its median time interval to 3.9 months, a drop of 52%. The average of the medians for 1972 for the 40 districts was 4.5 months. In 1973 the average dropped to 3.6 months, or by 0.9 month. TABLE 5-A.-U.S. DISTRICT COURTS-50 DISTRICTS WITH INCREASE IN MEDIAN TIME INTERVAL FROM FILING TO DISPOSITION OF DEFENDANTS DISPOSED OF IN CALENDAR YEAR 1973 COMPARED TO CALENDAR YEAR 1972 (DISTRICTS IN ORDER BY 1972 TIME INTERVALS) TABLE 5-B.-U.S. DISTRICT COURTS-40 DISTRICTS WITH DECREASE OR NO CHANGE IN MEDIAN TIME INTERVAL FROM FILING TO DISPOSITION OF DEFENDANTS DISPOSED OF IN CALENDAR YEAR 1793 COMPARED TO CALENDAR YEAR 1972 (DISTRICTS IN ORDER BY 1972 TIME INTERVALS) For a complete statement of district-by-district median time intervals, see the accompanying appendix. A RATIONALE FOR LOOKING AT MEDIAN TIME INTERVALS Statistics which are as a multitude saying many things, need to be put into a rationale for determining which sets of data require more attention than others. The last table in this report tends to put into a four-way perspective the groups of districts appearing in Tables 5a and 5b discussed above. The notations on the tables describe the districts which fall into the four groups. The 21 Group II districts falling in the left-hand bottom quadrant can be described as above the national median in 1972 of 3.7 months, and having increases in 1973, all greater than the 3.9 months median recorded nationally in 1973. Group I comprises 29 districts which experienced a lower median than the national in 1972 and had an increase in 1973. These two groups comprise special significance in the study of lengthening median time intervals. TABLE 6.-Number of districts with median time interval from filing to disposition of criminal defendants less than or greater than national median of 3.7 months in 1972 Group III-16 districts below national median in 1972 and increase in 1973. Group IV-24 districts above national median in 1972 and increase in 1973. Group I-29 districts below national median in 1972 and increase in 1973. Group II-21 districts above national median in 1972 and increase in 1973. In summary, the first year of speedy trial plans under Rule 50(b), F.R.Cr.P. shows that there was a slight increase in the median time interval from filing to disposition for criminal defendants disposed of in the district courts. Part of this increase appears to be linked to the reduction of fast turnover immigration cases and the continuing workload of drug law violations which now represent about 2 out of 10 defendants prosecuted in the district courts. The statistics are also muddled by the Selective Service Act violators, the majority of whom have been in a fugitive status for long periods (92% of those pending 12 months or more). There is a good inference that defendants are taking longer to read and the proportion of trials increased in 1973 compared to 1972. Twenty-four districts with median time intervals greater than 3.7 months in 1972 (the national average) brought them down in 1973. Another 16 districts has median time intervals below the 1972 national figure, and were able to reduce their medians in 1973. Of particular importance for future study are those 21 districts which had higher than national medians in 1972 and experienced an increase in 1973. Reduction of time from filing to disposition in these districts would have a saluatory effect to the national picture. Chart 1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS Median Time Interval of Defendants Disposed of in Criminal Cases by Method of Disposition, Calendar Years 1972 and 1973 Chart 2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS Defendants Disposed of in Criminal Cases by Length of Time Interval from Filing to 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ון 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 TIME INTERVAL FROM FILING TO DISPOSITION IN MONTHS* *Excludes defendants disposed of in excess of 24 months NOTE: Excludes District of Columbia and territories Source: Administrative Office of the United States Courts Chart 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTS Defendants Disposed of by Dismissal in Criminal Cases by Length of Time Interval from Filing to 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 TIME INTERVAL FROM FILING TO DISPOSITION IN MONTHS⭑ *Excludes defendants disposed of in excess of 24 months NOTE: Excludes District of Columbia and territories Source: Administrative Office of the United States Courts |