Page 7 - FY 2024-25 Budget Book - Abridged Version

About SCOC

The Public FY 2023-24 filings totaled 397,121, up by 9% from the prior fiscal year with notable
increases in Criminal, Civil, Juvenile, and Mental Health litigation types. Hearings held totaled
924,374, down 4% from the prior fiscal year with notable decreases in Criminal, Civil, and Appellate
division litigation types. Of the pre and post-disposition hearings held in FY 2023-24, 76% were

criminal matters.

In-person jury trials. 676 in-person jury trials were conducted over 2,959 days last fiscal year. Of
the total days in trial, 68% were spent on Criminal litigation types.

State Mandates – The trial courts have been tasked with the implementation of several important
priorities for the Legislature and Governor.

SB 129 (Pretrial Release Program). The Budget Act of 2021 appropriated funding for the
implementation and operation of ongoing court programs and practices that promote safe, efficient,
fair, and timely pretrial programs.

AB 716 (Remote Access to Court Proceedings). AB 716 requires courts to provide, at a minimum, a
public audio stream or telephonic means by which to listen to courtroom proceedings when the
courthouse is physically closed, except when the law authorizes or requires the proceedings to be

closed. Funding over two years was included in the Budget Act of 2022.

CARE Act (Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment). The CARE Act allows petitioners
to request voluntary treatment, services, support, and a housing plan for respondents who have
untreated severe mental illnesses.

Court Infrastructure – SCOC’s technology and facilities budgets reflect continuing efforts to

enhance the court’s technological capabilities to improve access to court services and expand and
improve court user physical access to services.

Technology upgrades. The effort to equip all 150 courtrooms with
hybrid equipment continues. Hybrid equipment will integrate evidence

presentation equipment with sound systems that fulfil the requirements
of AB 716.

The budget also includes major projects such as the modernization of
the court’s on-premise Oracle databases, the proof-of-concept phase of
the Vision case management system (CMS) modernization, and the

continuation of Grand Central, a reusable and configurable application
that enables multiple justice partners to exchange information with the
various court CMSs.

Building upgrades. In addition to an extensive facility modification to
fire, life, and safety systems at the Santa Ana courthouse, SCOC will

continue to upgrade the security and appearance of its facilities. Pictured: Family Court Services (FCS)
Trauma-Informed Office project
7