NCJ Number
34654
Date Published
1976
Length
225 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION REPORT ON THE CREIGHTON LEGAL INFORMATION CENTER PROJECT, A FREE CASE ASSISTANCE SERVICE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN RESEARCHING AND WRITING BRIEFS, MEMORANDA, JURY INSTRUCTIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENTS.
Abstract
THIS CRIMINAL CASE RESEARCH ASSISTANCE SERVICE WAS DESIGNED FOR USE BY NEBRASKA JUDGES, COUNTY, AND CITY PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND APPOINTED DEFENSE COUNSEL, AND COMMAND POLICE OFFICIALS. THE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT RURAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT RESEARCH RESOURCES AVAILABLE AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO INSURE THE PROPER OR ADEQUATE PROSECUTION, DEFENSE, OR TRIAL OF SOME CRIMINAL CASES. THE PROJECT WAS EVALUATED BASED ON THE NEED FOR SERVICES, THE NATURE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED, THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED, THE PROJECT'S IMPACT ON THE LEGAL SYSTEM, AND EVALUATIONS OF THE LAW STUDENTS EMPLOYED AS PROJECT STAFF. BASED ON THIS DATA, IT WAS FOUND THAT: NEBRASKA HAD A CLEAR NEED FOR THE PROJECT (SINCE OUTSTATE LEGAL PROFESSIONALS HAD TOO LITTLE TIME AND FEW FACILITIES TO PRODUCE THE KIND OF LEGAL RESEARCH THEY WANTED), THAT 94 PERCENT OF USERS RATED SERVICES AS 'GOOD' OR 'EXCELLENT;' THAT OVER 97 PERCENT OF REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY SURVEYED IN THE STATE WERE AWARE OF THE SERVICE; AND THAT STUDENTS REPORTED MAJOR EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS FROM WORKING ON THE PROJECT. THIS REPORT INCLUDES SEVERAL EXHIBITS, APPENDIXES, CROSS-REFERENCES, AND ATTACHMENTS. THE BODY OF THE REPORT IS CONTAINED IN A NARRATIVE RELATING TO THE PROJECT'S EVALUATION EFFORT, A TABULATION OF BUDGET EXPENDITURES, AND A NARRATIVE RELATING TO PUBLIC RELATIONS. INCLUDED AS APPENDIXES ARE THE FORMS AND LETTERS UTILIZED DURING THE PROJECT'S FIRST PHASE, INFORMATION AND RAW DATA RELATING TO THE EVALUATION OF THE PROJECT, AND MONTHLY PROJECT PROGRESS REPORTS. FOR A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MEMORANDA PREPARED BY THE PROJECT, SEE NCJ-34660.