COOP stands for continuity of operations; courts develop a COOP plan to ensure they know what to do if faced with an emergency that threatens the continuation of normal operations. Traditionally, a COOP plan is developed and implemented for situations in which the courthouse or court-related facilities are threatened or inaccessible (e.g., as a result of a natural or man-made disaster). A traditional COOP plan establishes effective processes and procedures to quickly deploy pre-designated personnel, equipment, vital records, and supporting hardware and software to an alternative site to sustain organizational operations for up to 30 days. It also covers the resumption of normal operations after the emergency has ended.
The development of a COOP plan can be a daunting, time-consuming assignment for state courts, one that competes with the myriad other responsibilities of court officials and staff. The NCSC’s new COOP Planning Guide and Template offers a step-by-step process with clear instructions for how courts may complete the key components of their COOP plan. The Guide is designed to be user-friendly and to make developing a COOP plan much more “doable.”
The Guide includes a collection of work tables for use by courts to complete their COOP plan. Every table has been pre-populated with sample language, which can be used as-is in the included COOP Template or can be modified to meet the unique needs of a court.
Not only is the step-by-step process clear and manageable to follow, but the Guide also provides a wealth of information. It is thorough and covers the waterfront of COOP planning. Users of the Guide and Template can feel confident that their completed COOP plan will be one that is comprehensive, cohesive and will serve their courts well.
Court officials and staff feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of developing a COOP plan should keep in mind the old adage: “Inch by inch, work’s a cinch; yard by yard, work is hard.” Using the NCSC’s new Guide and Template hews more toward the “inch by inch” approach and will make the hard process of developing a COOP less daunting.