Q: What is this study about?
A: This study examines how and where court programs (i.e., pretrial diversion programs and problem-solving courts) emerge across the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. The research aims to produce one of the first systematic national accounts of the institutional factors that shape whether and how these programs develop. 

Q: Who is conducting this research?
A: The study is conducted through the Dartmouth Justice Policy Project at Dartmouth College, which is led by Dr. Elizabeth G. Pfeffer, Principal Investigator, with Co-Principal Investigator JJ Dega, a Postgraduate Policy Fellow.

Q: Has this study been reviewed by an ethics board?
A: Yes. This study has been reviewed and approved by the Dartmouth College Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (STUDY00033807). The Committee can be reached at (603) 646-6482 during normal business hours.

Q: Is this study affiliated with any government agency, political organization, or advocacy group?
A: No. This is an independent academic research study conducted through Dartmouth College. It has no formal affiliation with any government agency, political organization, or advocacy group. 

Q: How is this study funded?
A: This study has been funded solely through academic sources, namely the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth College.

Q: Why was I contacted to complete a survey?
A: You were contacted because you are a senior district judge, district judge, or magistrate judge. This study invites all federal judges across the 94 U.S. districts to participate and you were not selected because of any particular characteristic. We are interested in perspectives from judges in all districts, including those with and without particular court programs.

Q: How will I be contacted?
A: You will receive emails and mailings to your chambers addresses from the research team. You may also see or receive an invitation link from other legal organizations who circulate the survey as a courtesy, but are not partners in the research.

Q: Why should I participate?
A: Federal judges are the primary focus of this survey because of their unique institutional role. Participation allows you to contribute to one of the first systematic national accounts of how federal court programs emerge — research that could inform judicial administration and court program development across the federal system.

Q: Do I have to participate?
A: No. Participation is entirely voluntary. You may decline the survey invitation, skip any individual question, or withdraw from the study at any time without consequence.

Q: How long will the survey take?
A: The survey takes approximately 18–20 minutes to complete. You may save your progress and return to it later if needed.

Q: Can I complete the survey on paper instead of online?
A: Yes. All participants will receive a physical mailing, which includes a paper survey booklet and a prepaid return envelope. You may complete the survey on paper and return it in the prepaid envelope. No postage is required.

Q: What if I did not receive or cannot locate the survey?
A: If you need a new copy of the survey, please email Justice.Policy.Project@dartmouth.edu.

Q: Can someone else complete the survey on my behalf?
A: We ask that the responses reflect solely the view of the federal judge invited to participate in the survey. If you are a clerk, courtroom deputy, judicial assistant, or other staff from chambers, we ask that you forward the survey invitation to the judge.

Q: Will my responses be kept confidential?
A: Yes. All responses are anonymous. No information that identifies you individually will appear in any published findings. Responses will only be reported in aggregate (e.g., districts, states, circuits, judge groups) in a way that cannot be linked to any individual respondent.

Q: How is my anonymity protected if I complete the survey online?
A: The online survey is administered through Dartmouth Qualtrics. Responses will not track your IP address, and the survey uses an anonymous link that cannot be traced to individual respondents. No passwords or personalized links are required to access the survey.

Q: How is my anonymity protected if I complete the survey on paper?
A: The paper survey contains no identifying numbers, codes, or tracking marks. The return envelope requires no identifying information from you. USPS postmarks may indicate general regional origin, but will never be used to individually identify respondents.

Q: Why am I receiving reminder emails/letters if I already completed the survey?
A: Because the survey is anonymous, the research team cannot identify who has or has not responded. Reminder communications are therefore sent to all potential participants. If you have already completed the survey, please disregard any subsequent reminders and accept our appreciation for your participation.

Q: Will my responses be used for any purpose other than this study?
A: De-identified responses may be used in future research projects on related topics. Any such future use will be reviewed by the Dartmouth College Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, which will determine whether that research requires your additional permission.

Q: I am a Chief Judge. What should I do if I have questions or concerns about this research?
A: Chief judges in each district will receive a courtesy notification letter before survey invitations are sent to judges in their district. If you have questions or concerns, or would prefer that judges in your district not be contacted, please reach out to Dr. Pfeffer directly at elizabeth.g.pfeffer@dartmouth.edu by September 8th, 2026. We will not contact judges until that date has passed. 

Q: Why have I been contacted for an interview?
A: You may be contacted for an interview if you: 1) are a judge who opted-in to an interview at the end of the Court Survey, 2) have been identified as particularly relevant to this research, or 3) were suggested as a potential participant.

 

Q: What is involved in an interview?
A: The interview will last approximately 30–45 minutes and can be conducted by phone or Zoom at a time convenient for you. We are committed to your anonymity and to treating responses with the strictest confidentiality protocols. No information that could identify you individually will appear in any published findings. You will receive an information sheet from the researchers describing the study, its privacy protections, and your rights as a participant. Interview participation is entirely separate from and independent of survey participation.

Q: What will I be asked during an interview?
A: The questions will vary based on your experience and role with court programs, but may include topics such as: your district’s experience with court programs and your perspective on the factors that shape program development, sustainability, and feasibility. 

Q: I did not opt in to an interview through the survey, but would like to participate in one. How do I sign up?
A: Please use this form or contact the research team at Justice.Policy.Project@dartmouth.edu.

Q: How do I recommend someone for an interview?
A: Please use this form or contact the research team at Justice.Policy.Project@dartmouth.edu.

Q: I opted in to an interview through the survey, but have changed my mind. How do I withdraw?
A: Please contact the research team at Justice.Policy.Project@dartmouth.edu at any time. Withdrawing from interview participation has no effect on your survey responses, which will be retained anonymously.

Q: When will the results be available?
A: Upon completion of the study, any published findings will be shared on this website. Judges and districts may also request a copy of the results here.

Q: How will the results be used?
A: The results will be used primarily for academic purposes, including, for example, journal articles or books. The results may also be shared in policy papers or other outreach as appropriate. All data contained within any outputs will be fully anonymized.

Q: Will my district’s results be reported separately?
A: Findings will not be reported at a level of granularity that could identify individual respondents. Results may be reported at the district, circuit, or regional level where the number of respondents is sufficient to prevent individual identification.