COMPARATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND PRIVATE ATTORNEYS IN A MAJOR CALIFORNIA COUNTY

• NCJ Number: 7252
• Author(s): G W SMITH
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 275 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION

Annotation

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE PRIVATE ATTORNEY AS TO THE OPERATIONS, THE FUNCTIONS, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH.

Abstract

RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISIONS HAVE EXPANDED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE TO PROVIDE ASSIGNED COUNSEL TO INDIGENT DEFENDANTS. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM AROSE OUT OF THE CONCOMITANT NEED FOR MORE ATTORNEYS. THIS STUDY IS AN ATTEMPT TO SYSTEMATICALLY ANALYZE AND EVALUATE THE NEED FOR, AS WELL AS THE OPERATION AND FUNCTION OF, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES. BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF STATISTICAL DATA ON THE OPERATIONS OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEMS IN THIS COUNTRY, THIS STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN AS AN EXPLORATORY EFFORT TO SUPPLY SUCH DATA. A DETAILED ANALYSIS IS PRESENTED OF DATA COLLECTED FROM ONE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM IN A MAJOR CALIFORNIA COUNTY. THE DATA CAN BE USED TO ANSWER THREE BASIC INQUIRIES - (1) WHO IS SERVED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, (2) HOW DO PUBLIC DEFENDERS DISPOSE OF THEIR CASES, AND (3) WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CASES HANDLED BY PUBLIC DEFENDERS.