What is an effect of excessive delays in the courtroom work group?

Excessive delays in the courtroom work group primarily lead to a strain on the overburdened justice system. When cases take longer to process, it results in a backlog of cases and can overwhelm resources such as judges, attorneys, and court personnel. This situation can hinder the timely administration of justice, increase costs, and contribute to frustration among defendants, victims, and the public. Additionally, such delays may result in diminished confidence in the justice system, as individuals may perceive that justice is being denied or delayed.

The other options do not align with the reality of excessive delays. Increased case processing efficiency would be counterintuitive to the idea of delays; delays would typically decrease efficiency. Similarly, justice being served more quickly would be the opposite of what excessive delays produce. Enhanced defendant rights may not necessarily correlate with prolonged delays; in fact, delays might impede the ability to affirm those rights effectively within a reasonable timeframe. The focus, therefore, rests on how delays complicate the functioning of an already strained system.