Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Analyze current caseload weights and offer suggestions for the transition to two judges. Staff time: weighted to court-case related events for two courtrooms/judges. a. Gather information regarding current caseload to include case types. b. Interview system participants to include judges (elected and regularly serving as judge pro tempore), prosecutors, public defenders, private counsel, court personnel, law enforcement, and others designated by BMC and City Leadership to be interviewed. c. Interview justice system stakeholders. d. Conduct a weighted caseload management study and make recommendations of how to most effectively allocate the workload between two judges/two courtrooms, including the interrelationship between prosecution caseloads and judicial caseloads. 2. Review and provide recommendations related to the planned new City Hall, including a Judicial Security Plan. a. Gather information regarding current facilities and safety measures. b. Review existing practices for judges and staff c. Interview system participants to include judges, prosecutors, public defenders, court personnel, and others designated by BMC and City Leadership. d. Perform a site visit to do an assessment of the current and planned new facility. e. Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders (Note: The City of Billings may request preliminary findings and recommendations, due to the timesensitivity of this aspect). 3. Workflow Efficiency (police entry-court entry-courtroom) a. Working with the BMC and City Leadership, develop a list of stakeholders to be interviewed. b. Interview system participants regarding current caseflow practices and staffing to include those identified to be interviewed. c. Gather information to analyze existing practices from case filing to disposition. d. Perform site visits to observe standing practices for caseflow management. e. Develop and present a set of draft recommendations to present to stakeholders. 4. Technology a. Working with the BMC and City Leadership, identify stakeholders to be interviewed. b. Gather information regarding existing technology used by City Prosecution, BMC, Yellowstone County Detention Center, and other local courts in Yellowstone County. . c. Working with identified stakeholders, gather information, including focus groups, identify technology needs. d. Perform an analysis on technology that may improve remote communication, stakeholder collaboration, workflow efficiencies, and overall operations. e. Present findings/recommendations BMC and City Leadership. 5. Jail Population and Misdemeanors a. Identify justice system stakeholders to be interviewed. b. Gather information about the current state. c. Analyze misdemeanor bonds, warrants, and sentencing data to identify factors that could be contributing to over-crowded jails. d. Prepare a set of findings/recommendations/alternative jail trends. e. Present findings/recommendations to justice system stakeholders. 6. Prepare a final report with findings and recommendations.
