NCJ Number
55829
Date Published
1979
Length
135 pages
Annotation
THIS GUIDE TO TRAINING AND USING PRISONERS AS PARALEGALS IN PRISON LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IS PART OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S SUPPORT TO IMPROVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES (BASICS) PROGRAM.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO TRAIN PRISONERS WHO DEMONSTRATE INTEREST AND AN ABILITY IN THE STUDY OF LAW TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO THE REST OF THE INMATE POPULATION. BASED ON THE EXPERIENCES OF PRISON LEGAL SERVICES OF MICHIGAN, INC., (1975-78) IN THE SOUTHERN MICHIGAN PRISON, THE GUIDE DISCUSSES SELECTION OF INMATES FOR PARALEGAL TRAINING, THE TRAINING CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTORS, STUDENT PAY, PARALEGAL RULES, JOB FUNCTIONS, CASE HANDLING, PRISON STAFF AND INMATE RELATIONS WITH THE PARALEGAL PROJECT STAFF, JOB PLACEMENT, AND EVALUATION OF PARALEGAL TRAINING. INMATES SHOULD BE SELECTED FOR TRAINING ON THE BASIS OF APTITUDE, MOTIVATION AND SINCERITY, EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS LEGAL EXPERIENCE, INSTITUTIONAL RECORD AND RECOMMENDATIONS, WORK EXPERIENCE AND JOB TRAINING AND HISTORY, CRIME AND RECIDIVISM, AND DEMOGRAPHICS. TRAINING SHOULD COVER BASIC LAW INVOVLING CRIMINAL APPELLATE PROCEDURES, DOMESTIC RELATIONS, TAXATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, PROBATE, CIVIL LITIGATION, AND WELFARE AND HOUSING LAW. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN THE COURSE OUTLINE USED IN THE SOUTHERN MICHIGAN PRISON, A STUDENT EXAM, A TRAINING BIBLIOGRAPHY, COPIES OF LETTERS SENT TO AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT FOR PARALEGALS ABOUT TO BE RELEASED FROM PRISON, AND PRESS RELEASES AND OTHER PRINTED MATTER CONCERNING THE PROJECT. (DAG)