National Symposium on Indigent Defense: Looking Back, Looking Forward (Papers and Presentations From 2010 Meetings)

• NCJ Number: 252338
• Date Published: February 2010
• Length: 586 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Program/Project Description; Instructional Material; Handbook

Annotation

Prior to presenting papers and presentations from the 2010 National Symposium on Indigent Defense: Looking Back, Looking Forward, 2000-2010, this collection presents the report on the 1999 National Symposium on Indigent Defense.

Abstract

The 1999 National Symposium on Indigent Defense brought together defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, victim advocates, and legislators to explore ways that leaders of the indigent defense system could forge alliances, build and strengthen innovative partnerships, and collaborate to improve the representation of indigent criminal defendants. The report provided on this symposium is entitled, "Improving Criminal Justice Systems Through Expanded Strategies and Innovative Collaborations." Its overall description of indigent defense legal services in the United States was that "despite progress in many jurisdictions, indigent defense in the United States today is in a chronic state of crisis." The 2010 symposium had the dual purpose of assessing how far the country has come since the 1999 symposium and identifying critical areas for improvement moving forward. One of the primary goals of the 2010 symposium was to examine indigent defense systems by state and consider reform efforts across the country. Workshops addressed policy issues, such as reform through litigation and legislation, and practical issues, such as managing limited resources for indigent defense in tough economic times. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr., delivered the keynote address. His address is provided in this report, along with the symposium agenda and program book. Plenary sessions focused on fulfilling the promise of counsel, innovations in juvenile defense reform, models of collaboration in indigent defense reform, ensuring quality representation, and strengthening forensic science. Online access is provided to the two symposium papers and the 13 presentations.