Guides
- U.S. Violent Crime Definition & Statistics
- The 5 Steps You Should Know When Adopting a Child
- What Is Criminal Profiling?
- A Full Guide on Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause
- What Is Email Encryption & How to Encrypt an Email?
- What is a White Collar Crime? A Full Guide
- Rental Scams: How Do They Work & How to Catch Scammers?
- A Complete Guide on Parole vs Probation
- 5 Steps to Remove Personal Information from Google
- A Full Guide on House Arrests
- A Complete Guide on Marriage and Civil Union
- How to Safeguard Yourself and Deal with Marriage Debt
- What is Eyewitness Testimony?
- A Full Guide on Gentrification: Why is it a Problem?
- 8 Most Dangerous Twitter Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
- How Do Zelle Scams Work and Things to Look Out For
- What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
- What is a Wellness Check?
- How To Get a Temporary Restraining Order?
- What Is Smishing Attack & How to Avoid It?
- Spam Emails: Types and Ways to Block Them
- Email Masking & Masked Email Addresses
- Spot a Fake QR Code & Avoid Getting Scammed
- Common NFT Scams to Look Out For & Ways to Avoid the Fake Ones
- What to Do If You Witness a Crime?
- What Is Skip Tracing and How Does It Work?
- Common Venmo Scams to Look Out For and How to Avoid Them
- Can You Get Child Custody If You Have a Criminal Record?
- Common Amazon Scams and Ways on How to Avoid Them
- How to Find Liens on a Property?
- Multiple Bankruptcies: How Often You Can File One?
- How to Adopt a Child in the US?
- I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
- Warning Signs of Job Scams and How to Protect Yourself
- What Is a Ban the Box Law?
- What is Expungement?
- How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
- What Is a Police Blotter?
- How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
- What Is a Clean Driving Record?
- What is Title Washing?
- What is Extortion?
- How To Run a Motorcycle Title Search
- What Is a Digital Footprint?
- What is Anti Money Laundering (AML)?
- Guide on How to Get a Death Certificate
- What is the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
- What is Multi Factor Authentication?
- What is a Citizen's Arrest?
- How to Know that You’re in an Obsessive Relationship
- Guide to Online Survey Scams
- 13 Different Types of Police Officers
- Full Guide on Work-from-Home Scams
- Is Private Browsing Really Private?
- Different Types of Felony Classes & Charges
- What is Juice Jacking?
- What are Romance Scams?
- Traffic Offenses and Violations
- What is Doxing and How to Prevent it?
- What are Spam Text Messages
- The U.S. Death Penalty: History and Modern Usage
- A Guide to Different Types of Bankruptcies
- Common eBay Scams to be Aware of
- What Happens When You are Booked in Jail?
- What Information Can You Get From A License Plate
- Different Types of Assets
- 8 Tips to Help You Find Family Members
- Car History Guide, Benefits, Importance
- Am I Dating a Stalker?
- How to Find out if Your Partner is Cheating
- What Is A Packet Sniffing Attack
- Intellectual Property Law and Rights
- Cyberstalking And Its Dangers
- A Guide to Phishing Scams
- What is Organized Crime?
- I’ve Lost My Driver’s License: What Should I Do?
- Misdemeanor Charges: Types, Classes, and Penalties
- A Complete Guide On Catfishing
- Vanity Phone Numbers: A Complete Guide
- What Happens When You Get Arrested
- Guide to Find Information About a Person Online
- How To Find And Claim Unclaimed Money
- What Happens if You Violate Probation
- Guide on How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet
- How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
- How to Deal with an Outstanding Warrant
- Different Types of Car Insurance
- What Is Cyptojacking?
- What Is Email Security?
- What Is the Deep Web and What Can Be Found There?
- What Happens When You Declare Bankruptcy
- How Divorce Settlements are Calculated
- What are Common Methods of Social Engineering
- What is the Difference Between a General Lien and a Specific Lien?
- How to Detect Odometer Rollback
- Different Types of Probation
- Finding forgotten life insurance policies
- What is Bearer Bond and Why the US Banned it
- Everything you need to know about small claims court
- Moral Turpitude: Definition, Examples, and Much More!
- Misdemeanor vs Felony
- How To Read VIN Number
- How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Cell Phone
- How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay On Your Criminal Record?
- The Paypal Phishing Scam You Should Care to Avoid
- License Plates Types: USA Guide
- Effects of Cyberbullying: Complete Guide for Parents
- What is the DPPA?
- Petty Theft: Definition and Consequences
- What is a Life Sentence?
- How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant?
- Marriage License vs Certificate: Everything You Need to Know
- The Ten Most Popular Celebrity Mugshots
- How to Find Out if Someone is Married?
- How to Stop Phone Spoofing?
- How To Avoid Probate
- Dealing with abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood
- How to Find Someone's Cell Phone Number by Their Name
- Who Are the Worst Drivers in America?
- How To Find Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives
- What is a Digital License Plate?
- How to Find out if Someone Died?
- Murder vs Manslaughter: The Differences and Definitions
- How to Hire a Private Investigator?
- What Is a Number Neighbor?
- How to Find Out if Someone was Arrested
- How to Find Someone's Birthday?
- What is a Car Title
- How to Obtain a Police Report and Court Records?
- Filing a false police report
- Prison Valley: Look inside Prison Town
- How to Get Custody of a Child Without Going to Court?
- How to Find Someone’s Social Media Profiles?
- What to Do if Your Phone Is Tapped?
- What Is a Deed in Real Estate?
- Where Was The First US Federal Penitentiary Established?
- How to Find Someone's Location Using Their Cell Phone Number?
- What Is a Restricted Call?
- Who is the Most Dangerous Prisoner in the World?
- Poshmark Scams: How to Prevent and Report Them
- How to Find a Missing Person?
- How to Send Money to a Federal Inmate?
- DUI vs DWI: What're The Differences
- How Long After Buying a Car Do You Need to Register it?
- How to Find out Where Someone Lives?
- What Happens If You Get Caught Driving a Car Without Interlock
- Situational Crime Prevention: Theory, Techniques and Examples
- How Can I Find Out Who Called Me for Free?
- Gun Free Zone Statistics and Facts
- Online Threats and Digital Security: Trends, Types and Most Common Examples
- Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
- Court Order: Definition, Types and Examples
- What Does a Fingerprint Background Report Show?
- How to Check Your Criminal Record?
- What is Tort Law?
- How to Calculate Child Support
- Property Rights: Definition, and Characteristics
- 12 Common Reasons for Public Records Request
- What is Antitrust Law?
- Virginia Gun Confiscation Law
- Ways to Know Who Owns a House
- Neighborhood Watch Program
- How to Perform a Mugshot Search?
- Crime Mapping
- Safest Colleges in Florida
- Veterans Guide to Cars and Driving
- U.S. Correctional System: Structure, Incarceration and Facts
- License Plate Laws in the US
- How to Find Out If Someone Is in Jail?
- Email Hacking: Laws, Penalties and Protection
- Romeo and Juliet Laws
- Holiday Safety for Home and Family
- Differences between Criminal and Arrest Records
- Public Records and Property History: What is Public Information and What Isn’t
- How to Look up Immigration Inmates?
- Famous Prisons in the USA
- How to Find Out Who Owns a Vehicle Using Reverse Lookup Tools
- How to Search for Your Family Tree?
- The Federal Judicial Center
- Mass Incarceration in the USA
- What is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)?
- Data Safety After The Capital One Breach
- Scholarships Guide for Students
- Complete Guide to Student Safety
- What Is a Vehicle Identification Number?
- Determining Divorce: 5 Types of Divorce You Must Know
- Sex Offenders: Complete Guide to be Protected
- New Privacy Laws and Public Records
- Motor Vehicle Registration in the US
- Digital Token Age: Security Laws and Regulations
- Facial Recognition Technology and Legal Restrictions
- What Shows up in a Background Report
- What is Repossession of a Car?
- How to Protect Yourself from Phone Scams
- Human Rights in the Prison
- What are Business Competition Laws?
- What is a Hate Crime?
- Starting a Business and Business Licenses
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidance
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Tax Reform Impact and Changes To Know
- Self-Driving Cars: Laws and Regulations
- White-Collar Crime: Statistics and Facts
- Have You Been Arrested? Cases You'll Need a Lawyer
- How to Get a Driver's License in the US
- Car Theft in the US: Prevention and Facts
- Identity Theft Passport Program
- Changing your Name after Marriage: What You Need to Know
- Finding the Perfect Roommate: Dos and Donts
- What to Do in a Car Accident?
- Property Crimes: How to Burglar Proof Your Home
- Consumer Laws in the US: What Do They Mean for a Customer and a Business Owner
- Child Trafficking: The Scope, Understanding, and Prevention
- Business Assets: A Guide to the Financial Health of your Business
- Guide To The College Application: How, When and Where to Apply
- Which States Have “Stand Your Ground” Laws?
- Adolescent Depression Symptoms and Causes
- Things to Know About the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System
- Inheritance in the US: With & Without a Will
- Online Dating Safety Guide for Men and Women
- Sexual Abuse in the U.S.: Laws and Statistics
- Supporting Children After Divorce: Child Custody Options
- Halloween Horrors Come to Life: Holidays Crimes in the U.S.
- Charity Scams in the U.S.: Be Aware and Protected
- Webcam Hacking & Spying in the US
- Sex Offender Search
- Freedom of Religion in the U.S.
- Senior Financial Scams: How are the Elderly Targeted and How to Avoid It
- Catcalling: Is it illegal? How to Deal With It
- A Complete Guide To Insurance Fraud: Common Types and Prevention
- Sextortion: What to Do if You Became a Victim of Blackmailing
- Concealed Carry: How to Protect Yourself on Campus
- Debt Collection Laws | Fair Debt Collection Act: What You Need To Know
- How Much Is My House Worth? Ultimate Guide to Home Buying and Selling
- What are the Traits of a Sociopath?
- Do You Know Who Your Neighbors Are?
- Learn How to Find Your Birth Parents
- The Importance of Public Records in Law
- Do You Know What's the Difference Between Jail and Prison?
- Homeowner’s Insurance, Is it a Public Record?
- The Disturbing Facts of Gun Violence in America
- How to Use Public Records in Marketing
- Best & Worst Cities for Driving
- LGBT Bullying
- What You Need to Know When Buying or Selling a Used Car?
- School Safety and Security Standards
- Making Your DMV Experience Fast And Easy
- How to Prepare For an Active Shooter Incident
- How to Report a Crime?
- How to Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks
- 50 Things to Know When Filing for Divorce
- What to Do When You Are Stopped By the Police
- Tips for Back-to-School Safety and Security
- Guide to Filing for Bankruptcy
- How to Appeal the Court's Decision
- A User's Guide to Warrants
- How to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
- Keeping Your Neighborhood Safe For Your Family
- A Parent's Guide to Keeping Your Child Drug-Free
The Federal Judicial Center: All You Need to Know
The Federal Judicial Center is a federal agency in the US. It is responsible for research and education for the US federal courts, including conducting continuing education and training for federal judges, court clerks, and other court staff. The center also develops recommendations concerning operation and study of federal courts and conducts research about court operations, history, and federal judicial procedures.
The Center Structure
The Federal Judicial Center has different divisions that are responsible for different functions. There is an Education Division, which provides educational programs, services, and resources for judges and other court personnel. The center also has a Research Division, which accepts research requests from various parties within the federal judicial system and then executes them. These might include research about:
- Federal judicial processes
- Court management
- Sentencing precedents
The Federal Judicial History Office is another division of the Federal Judicial Center. It is tasked with developing programs pertaining to the history of the judicial branch and assisting courts in the development and maintenance of their own judicial history programs. It collects and produces resources about the history of Federal courts, such as:
- Judicial biographies
- Caseload data
- Teaching materials
- Structure and jurisdiction of Federal courts
The last division is the Inter-judicial Affairs Office, which provides information about Federal courts to foreign judicial systems and compiles information about foreign judicial systems.
Federal Judicial Center History
The Federal Judicial Center originated from the need for relevant research. From the 1950s to the early 1960s, the Judicial Conference and the Administrative Office commissioned research to examine problems of judicial administration and organized education programs for judges. These efforts were helpful in helping to manage complicated caseloads, which were also growing in number. The efforts proved to be very useful, these programs had no permanent staff or funding at the time. It was clear that an established, organized program of judicial research and education was needed on a more reliable basis. It was then that the Federal Judicial Center was established by Congress in 1967. This was done due to a recommendation of the Judicial Conference of the United States, led at the time by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Warren, along with other members of the judiciary, believed that providing regular programs of research and education could greatly improve the operations and efficiency of Federal courts. This move was meant to also help relieve the backlog of cases in the lower courts.
In 1988, Congress added a provision to the Center's statute authorizing it to conduct, coordinate, and encourage programs relating to the history of the judicial branch of the U.S. government. Today, the Federal Judicial History Office engages in history projects and accepts inquiries from court staff, students, and the general public concerning the history of the judicial branch. The History Office also looks for collaborations with relevant organizations, such as the American Society for Legal History, the Society for History in the Federal Government, the Organization of American Historians, the American Historical Association, and the American Political Science Association.
Federal Judicial Center Board and Center Governance
Like many public entities, The Federal Judicial Center is governed by a board of officials. The board includes the Chief Justice of the United States, as well as the director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. The board also has seven judges, and they are elected by the Judicial Conference. The Board appoints the Center’s Director and Deputy Director. The Center’s other staff is appointed by the Director. The Director’s Office is tasked with the management of the Center, and with optimizing its relations with other organizations. The Center’s Systems Innovation & Development Office is in charge of providing technical support for education and research program. The Communications Policy and Design division creates and produces all print and electronic publications used by the Center, runs the Federal Judicial Television Network, and hosts a specialized library collection of materials on judicial administration, together with the Information Services Office
Federal Courts and The Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is the education and research agency for the federal courts. This means that the Center is a reliable resource for Federal courts, whether they are seeking to research certain information pertaining to the cases it hears, or to seek education programs for its staff, so they may be better equipped to meet the specific challenges that arise.
The Center has detailed training documents that are accessible through its website. Court employees do not need to provide login and authentication to access many of the training documents. Training for judges is especially key, as many newly appointed judges have not spent any time on the bench. Judge education sessions are most often delivered in person, to better facilitate discussion. Every year the Center delivers a series of national or regional workshops for district, bankruptcy, and magistrate judges, respectively. National programs for appellate judges occur every three years. These training series cover a broad range of legal topics and skills, including:
- New legal developments and case management techniques
- Ethics updates
- Judicial history
- Legal developments related to science and technology
The Center also delivers annual programs for chief district judges that focus on management and leadership. There are also smaller seminars offered, and topics include intellectual property, employment law, environmental law, and a mediation training program.
The Center also serves Federal courts with publications, television broadcasts, video and audio recordings, and web-based materials. It also publishes manuals and other materials in hard copy.
Federal Prisons and the Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center’s work can have an impact on federal prisons. Because it produces research and education that can influence sentencing, the Center has an indirect impact on prison populations. It also works with Federal prisons to facilitate informational visits for new court judges and other staff as part of their education. Finally, the Center’s work can contribute to the development and maintenance of Federal Alternative-to-Incarceration programs, managed by the US Sentencing Commission.
The Federal Judicial Center Foundation
The Federal Judicial Center efforts are supported by the Federal Judicial Central Foundation. This is a private, non-profit corporation. Its mission is to raise funds and receive gifts to support the work of the Center. Funds raised by the foundation help the Center do more than it would with Federal funding alone. The Foundation was created by Congress in 1988. All donations to the Foundation are treated for tax purposes as gifts to the United States government. Donations come from charitable institutions, judges, lawyers, and other entities.
International Judicial Relations
The Federal Judicial Center helps to improve international judicial relations by providing information to help improve the administration of justice in foreign countries. The Center further supports this effort by delivering briefings and short programs for visiting foreign judges and foreign court officials. It serves as a resource for U.S. judges working with judges from other countries, supports judicial projects abroad, and makes available informational materials about the federal judicial system to international entities. Finally, the Center gathers information from outside the country that may inform the administration of justice in the United States.
In summary, it is evident that the Federal Judicial Center is a key agency that supports the US Federal justice system. While it is a smaller agency, employing roughly 130 people, it delivers very important research and education resources that are actively sought and utilized by Federal courts. The Center also has an impact on Federal prisons and the relationship with foreign courts and judges. Due to the challenges the Federal courts regularly face, such as high volumes of cases that result in long waiting periods, they do not have the time to develop training programs and conduct research. By supporting the courts with these functions, and by being available to all Federal jurisdictions, the Center is a powerful player in the US justice system.