Guidelines for Pandemic Emergency Preparedness Planning: A road Map for Courts

Abstract

"Guidelines for Pandemic Emergency Planning: A Road Map for Courts" reflects the guidance developed by a Task Force of experienced judges and practitioners assembled by the U.S. Department of Justice/Bureau of Justice Assistance to address the broad range of constitutional and legal issues that would arise from a pandemic outbreak, and the relationships of the courts and pubic health agencies during such an emergency. Of particular import are issues presented by pandemics not addressed in general emergency planning and the essential tasks to sustain the functioning of the civil and criminal justice system and justice system operations generally during a pandemic and ensuring continued access to justice and the rule of law. The "Guideline" is one of several initiatives launched by President George W. Bush's "Strategy for Pandemic Influenza" released in November 2005 addressing the need to prepare for a multilevel response by local, state, and federal governments in the event of a pandemic -- which had been predicted as a potential outgrowth of a new strain of influenza virus found in birds in Asia shown to have the possibility of affecting humans, if it mutated. The Table of Contents provides a more detailed summary of the issues addressed, along with scenarios that can serve as training vehicles.