When developing a records management program, the first issue the court needs to determine is the number of employees needed to staff the court.

• A. True
• B. Not determinable
• C. False
• D. Depends on size

Answer: (C)

In starting a records management program, the priority is to establish what needs to be managed, under what rules, and how long those records must be kept. That means identifying the court’s records, assessing their value and legal requirements, creating an inventory, and setting policies and retention schedules. Once you know the scope, classifications, and retention obligations, you can plan governance and assign roles. Only after these foundations are in place do staffing needs get determined, based on projected workload and processes. So, focusing on how many employees are needed to staff the court isn't the first consideration; the initial step is defining the program’s scope and retention requirements.