NCJ Number
53789
Editor(s)
S D CRONK
Date Published
1977
Length
54 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT OF A CONFERENCE HELD UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE NATIONAL RURAL CENTER AND THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION CONTAINS SIX CONFERENCE PAPERS AND A SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS ON PROBLEMS AND ISSUES.
Abstract
THE FORMAL PAPERS DISCUSS THE LACK OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE RURAL POOR, THE PROBLEMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN RURAL AREAS, THE INABILITY OF RURAL PEOPLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCATE LAWS, PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN DELIVERING LEGAL SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS, AND THE STRUCTURE OF RURAL COURTS. A DIRECTORY OF RESOURCES IS PROVIDED. THE DISCUSSIONS ARE SUMMARIZED IN BOTH THE INTRODUCTION AND IN AN APPENDIX. THE MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE SEEN AS A POWERLESSNESS OF RURAL PEOPLE TO INFLUENCE THEIR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THE STRONG URBAN BIAS OF FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS. IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT RURAL PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED LAWYERS AND COURT PERSONNEL TO RURAL AREAS, AND THAT LARGE DISTANCES AND SPARSE POPULATIONS MAKE DELIVERY OF SERVICES DIFFICULT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT GREATER ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES COULD BE FACILITATED BY COORDINATING THEM WITH OTHER HUMAN SERVICES WHICH ARE NOW BEING DELIVERED INDEPENDENTLY AND FAR MORE EFFECTIVELY. THE SYSTEM'S FAILURE TO DELIVER LEGAL SERVICES TO RURAL MINORITIES IS ATTRIBUTED TO LACK OF RESOURCES TO MAKE BASIC SERVICES AVAILABLE TO HARD-TO-REACH MINORITIES SUCH AS MIGRANT FARMWORKERS, INABILITY TO ADAPT TO CULTURAL AND LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES, AND INSENSITIVITY TO MINORITY PROBLEMS. LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND OTHER PROGRAMS ARE CRITICIZED FOR NOT REACHING RURAL AREAS, AND THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE OF RURAL COURTS IS DESCRIBED. CHARACTERISTICS OF RURAL PEOPLE WHICH MAKE THEM SLOW TO SEEK HELP ARE ALSO REVIEWED. A SERIES OF CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED. APPENDIXES PRESENT CONFERENCE DATA. (SEE ALSO NCJ 53790-NCJ 53793)