A Survey for Courts Employees

Building a Case for the Courts

The evidence is clear. Statewide budget cuts have devastated the court system impacting everything from court buildings to reduced staff and services.
But nobody knows the impact of budget cuts like court employees.

Now it's time to share your experience as a court employee, trying to provide more services with fewer resources. Tell us how statewide budget cuts are impacting your courthouse.

Fill out and return this survey to enter a giveaway. One court employee will win a steak and martini dinner (in honor of the AOC’s free-spending ways). Winner will be drawn at random from a pool of completed surveys.

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* Challenges

1. Are you able to complete the requirements of your job despite your increased work load?

Yes

Please explain:

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* 2. Are you experiencing added stress as a result of handling more work or not being granted time off? Please explain:

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* 3. How has reduced staff and/or service hours impacted the ability of court workers to serve the public? Please explain:

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* 4. Do you as a court employee have trouble contacting other court employees when you need questions answered?

Yes

How has this communication delay impacted court services? Please explain:

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* 5. Do you lack the equipment necessary for you to perform your work? i.e. fax machines, pens or paper. Please explain:

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* 6. Are you asked to purchase your own supplies?

Yes

If so, what supplies? Please explain:

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* 7. Are you covering work at other desks or departments due to a lack of staff?

Yes

Please explain:

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* 8. How has the public responded to the increased wait times, long lines and other inconveniences due to the budget cuts? Please explain:

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* 9. Are there ways the court system can be more efficient and provide cost savings? Please explain:

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* 10. What type of efficiencies do you suggest to streamline the work you do? Please explain:

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* 11. Tell us the most extreme example of an instance where service disruptions seriously impacted court proceedings or services. For example: a business dispute that faced delayed processing, a victim of domestic violence being put in danger or a child’s welfare impacted as a result of reduced services in the court system. Please explain:

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* 12. Is there anything we haven’t asked about the impact of budget cuts on court services that is affecting you? Please explain:

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* Describe the frequency of the listed service disruptions:

	Frequently	Sometimes	Rarely
Long Lines at the Clerk’s Office	Long Lines at the Clerk’s Office Frequently	Long Lines at the Clerk’s Office Sometimes	Long Lines at the Clerk’s Office Rarely
Slow Processing of Paper Work	Slow Processing of Paper Work Frequently	Slow Processing of Paper Work Sometimes	Slow Processing of Paper Work Rarely
Delayed Rulings on Cases	Delayed Rulings on Cases Frequently	Delayed Rulings on Cases Sometimes	Delayed Rulings on Cases Rarely
Inability to Contact the Courts Because of Reduced Staff Responding to Phones Calls	Inability to Contact the Courts Because of Reduced Staff Responding to Phones Calls Frequently	Inability to Contact the Courts Because of Reduced Staff Responding to Phones Calls Sometimes	Inability to Contact the Courts Because of Reduced Staff Responding to Phones Calls Rarely

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* Join our campaign to Take Back Our Courts! Yes, I will:

Attend a Lobby Day in Sacramento to support AB 1208 (Calderon), a bill that ensures funding allocated to trial courts goes only to trial courts

Visit a legislator in my area

Contact my elected representatives by phone or email

Join an event, such as a rally, at the AOC’s headquarters in San Francisco

Join an event, such as a rally, in my area

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* My contact information (Not required, but to enter the giveaway, please fill out at least your first name, your last name and one way to reach you.)

First Name:

Last Name:

County:

Courthouse:

Years served as a court employee:

Title:

Address:

City:

Zip:

Cell Phone:

Personal Email:

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* Challenges1. Are you able to complete the requirements of your job despite your increased work load?

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* 2. Are you experiencing added stress as a result of handling more work or not being granted time off? Please explain:

Question Title

* 3. How has reduced staff and/or service hours impacted the ability of court workers to serve the public? Please explain:

Question Title

* 4. Do you as a court employee have trouble contacting other court employees when you need questions answered?

Question Title

* 5. Do you lack the equipment necessary for you to perform your work? i.e. fax machines, pens or paper. Please explain:

Question Title

* 6. Are you asked to purchase your own supplies?

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* 7. Are you covering work at other desks or departments due to a lack of staff?

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* 8. How has the public responded to the increased wait times, long lines and other inconveniences due to the budget cuts? Please explain:

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* 9. Are there ways the court system can be more efficient and provide cost savings? Please explain:

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* 10. What type of efficiencies do you suggest to streamline the work you do? Please explain:

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* 12. Is there anything we haven’t asked about the impact of budget cuts on court services that is affecting you? Please explain:

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* Describe the frequency of the listed service disruptions:

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* Join our campaign to Take Back Our Courts! Yes, I will:

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* My contact information (Not required, but to enter the giveaway, please fill out at least your first name, your last name and one way to reach you.)

* Challenges

1. Are you able to complete the requirements of your job despite your increased work load?