CURRENT REALITIES OF PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAMS - A NATIONAL SURVEY AND ANALYSIS

• NCJ Number: 13487
• Journal: Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1974) Pages: 161-183
• Author(s): P B WICE; P SUWAK
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: Warren, Gorham and Lamont, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS IN NINE URBAN AREAS AS TO THEIR CASELOADS, CAPABILITY, QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS.

Abstract

PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAMS IN ST. LOUIS, DETROIT, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND, WASHINGTON, D.C., PHILADELPHIA, BALTIMORE AND LOS ANGELES ARE COMPARED USING INSTITUTIONAL AND PROCEDURAL VARIABLES. THE INSTITUTIONAL VARIABLES CONSIDERED ARE BUDGET, SIZE OF LEGAL STAFF, STAFF EXPERIENCE AND NUMBER OF INVESTIGATORS. PROCEDURAL VARIABLES INCLUDED DETERMINATION OF INDIGENCY, JURISDICTION, TIME AND CONTENT OF THE INITIAL MEETING AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROSECUTOR AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER. ALSO MENTIONED IS THE PRESCENCE OF AN ASSEMBLY LINE PROCESS, IN WHICH THE DEFENDANT IS REPRESENTED BY A DIFFERENT LAWYER AT EACH STAGE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS IS RATED ACCORDING TO A FORMULA BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF ACQUITTALS OBTAINED, THE PERCENTAGE OF DISMISSALS AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE CITY'S TOTAL CASELOAD ACCEPTED BY THE PROGRAM. THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT THE INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES, (PUBLIC DEFENDER CASELOAD, INVESTIGATOR CASELOAD AND PER CASE EXPENDITURE) ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN DETERMINING PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS.