NCJ Number
102913
Date Published
1984
Length
74 pages
Annotation
This case study describes Shelby County's (Tennessee) successful development and implementation of the Early Representation by Defense Counsel (ERDC) field test in which felony defendants were screened soon after arrest for program eligibility, randomly assigned into test and control groups, and test defendants were represented by attorneys as soon as possible.
Abstract
Findings were based on analysis of 1,301 cases -- 569 test and 732 control -- selected for the experiment between September 1982 and May 1983. Overall, the implementation period was less traumatic than the development phase. The site encountered difficulties in eligibility screening and random selecting of test and control groups. Average first attorney-client contact for test cases occurred after 24 hours, and municipal court judges cooperated by appointing the public defender at first appearance in most cases. Individualized representation and early investigation were unqualified successes. Most judges and prosecutors interviewed thought the program was a success and felt it should be institutionalized. ERDC resulted in real savings to the county in terms of reduced jail expenses and reduced municipal court backlog. Case study results suggest that the program had some limited impact on case outcomes. The report discusses the short and long-term changes in the county's criminal justice system resulting from the test. Diagrams.