Measurement Overview . Three measures are associated with this standard. Two of them require examination of case records, and the third requires a survey of court officials and other individuals who have occasion in their work to read and interpret the terms of court orders and judgments. Measure 3.4.1 focuses on criminal cases, Measure 3.4.2 concerns civil judgments, and Measure 3.4.3 applies to both civil and criminal cases. The purpose of this measure is to determine how well the court communicates the terms and conditions of criminal sentences.
Sentences deprive individuals of liberty.
Consequently, courts should not contribute to incorrect applications of punishment. Courts should state sentences clearly and precisely enough in orders that correctional officials, probation officers, and others know how to administer them. Specific information about the details of the judgment and sentence that are key indicators of clarity of the court's orders can be recorded on data collection forms and analyzed quantitatively. To select the cases, the total number of cases on the list must first be determined. For example, the court may have disposed of 1,220 criminal cases in a 6-month period in which the defendant pled guilty or was found guilty after a trial.