The Cherokee County Chief Magistrate Court's activity is "going through the roof," according to Chief Judge James Drane, and leading him and his staff to look for solutions.

The "people's court" handled 31,233 cases in 2010, up more than 9 percent from 28,553 in 2009.

One program put in place last year has been so successful in making the court more efficient, an expansion may be in the works.

The electronic warrant system allows law enforcement officers to communicate with a judge from a laptop computer in their patrol car. The system also can be used by officers at their precincts to obtain search and arrest warrants from the court.

The system, according to the court, saves officers time and fuel by not having to drive to the Justice Center to pick up documents.

Between September when it was implemented and the end of the year, 492 warrants have been obtained through the system and $61,500 has been saved.

Just since the end of January, 222 warrants have been obtained through the system, which saved the court about $28,000.

Chief Associate Judge Gregory Douds said the court wants to expand the system to judges who are available after-hours in case an officer needs to get a warrant in the middle of the night.

The court also recently implemented a new case management system that allows the staff and attorneys to track cases.

A new check citation procedure also is in place, which gives the accused the opportunity to pay a bounced check to another party or merchant before the case goes to court.

Douds added the court also has updated its standard forms to help people better understand what's being asked of them.

This year, the court is working to start a Junior Achievement program.

The national program, which as been around since about 1920, is a mentorship initiative that matches community volunteers to students. The volunteers spend a half a day once a week mentoring students and teaching them life skills.

Douds said he's talked about the idea with county school board members, and if the Cherokee County School District gives it the green light, he'll start recruiting about 50 community volunteers to visit schools.

Drane said the program would teach life skills such as reading and how to balance a checkbook.

The lack of such skills, Douds said, "translate" into the offenses they typically see in their courtrooms.