EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

• NCJ Number: 53719
• Author(s): R ROVNER-PIECZENIK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977

Annotation

CRITERIA FOR THE EVALUATION OF PUBLIC DEFENDER PROJECTS ARE EXAMINED. METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION, SOURCES OF DATA, AND POSSIBLE EVALUATION DESIGNS ARE ALL DISCUSSED TO HELP RESEARCHERS ASSESS QUALITY OF SERVICES.

Abstract

THE FIRST STEP IN THIS PROJECT DESIGNED TO STIMULATE THE EVALUATION OF PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF 11 OBJECTIVES GROUPED UNDER 3 MAJOR GOALS. THE GOALS CONCERN THE AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES, THE QUALITY OF SERVICES, AND THE USE OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS TO IMPROVE ADVOCACY IN THE COURTS. THE PAPER THEN FOCUSES ON CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF QUALITY OF SERVICES. OBJECTIVES UNDER THIS GOAL CONCERN COMPETENCE, ZEAL, FREEDOM FROM POLITICAL INFLUENCE, FREEDOM FROM IMPROPER JUDICIAL CONTROL, AND REPRESENTATION WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT EVALUATORS FOCUS ON THE LEGAL TRAINING OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS, THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE SELECTED, THE EXISTENCE AND USE OF SUFFICIENT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES, ACTUAL CASE PREPARATION, CASELOADS, TYPES OF RESPONSIBILITY GIVEN A DEFENDER, AND COMPARISONS OF DEFENDER PERFORMANCE WITH THAT OF SKILLED PRIVATE CRIMINAL ATTORNEYS. DATA COLLECTED SHOULD INCLUDE STATISTICAL COMPARISONS OF CASE MANAGEMENT AND CASE OUTCOMES FOR PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND PRIVATE ATTORNEYS, INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE AND COURT PERSONNEL, OBSERVATIONS OF DEFENDERS IN COURT, REVIEW OF DEFENDER FILES, AND REVIEWS OF OFFICE MATERIALS. POSSIBLE EVALUATION DESIGNS FOR DEFENDER PERFORMACE EVALUATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. APPENDED TABLES LIST THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED BY THE PROJECT, CRITERIA FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THESE GOALS, AND DATA NEEDED FOR DEFENDER PROJECT EVALUATION. (GLR)