NCJ Number
81820
Date Published
1979
Length
240 pages
Annotation
This study focuses on prosecutor and defense productivity by quantifying the costs of these legal services for the Office of the District Attorney and the Office of the Public Defender in Los Angeles, Calif.
Abstract
A general methodology was developed that is suitable for determining legal services costs both in Los Angeles and in other settings. Case weights were then derived, indicating the average amount of attorney time spent on criminal cases, controlling for offense type and method of disposition. Finally, a summary of attorney activities was provided. Time data were collected from all deputy district attorneys who processed felony cases in four branch offices and in the main office over a 73-day period. Data collection in the public defender's office followed a similar plan, but attorneys were much less willing to cooperate, and data veracity is questionable. An obvious application of the weights determined in this study is to provide a focal point for external funding decisions. A second use of this analysis is in suggesting where changes in justice administration might have the greatest impact on reducing costs and increasing productivity. The case-weight analysis has important potential uses in internal allocation decisions. Numerous tables, illustrations, and footnotes are supplied. Appendixes include a description of the data base construction, the case weight estimation model, data validation, a list of crime offense codes, and other information.