NCJ Number
139108
Date Published
1991
Length
41 pages
Annotation
The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that provides civil legal services to indigent and poor individuals in Hawaii, was evaluated with respect to its organization and management.
Abstract
The agency has 9 offices and a staff of 64. It is supported by State funds, Federal funds, the United Way, and other sources. The audit revealed that the society has made some progress but is having difficulty keeping up with an increasingly complex legal environment. Special challenges include the geographic distance between offices and difficulties in securing Federal funds. Problems include the large size and rigid membership requirements of the board of directors, questionable decisions regarding major program changes, and problems resulting from the centralized control by the Honolulu office. Recommended changes include assigning to a committee the responsibilities for evaluating the program and the executive director, analysis of the responsibilities of the central and branch offices, delegation of appropriate decisionmaking to lower levels, and computerization of certain operations. Figures, tables, reference notes, and attached correspondence