NCJ Number
46694
Date Published
1977
Length
121 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS IS PRESENTED OF THE FUNDING, DELIVERY, AND COORDINATION OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME PERSONS IN MONROE COUNTY, N.Y., AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING SERVICES ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE REPORT FINDS THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS PROVIDERS OF FREE CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES IN THE COUNTY, MANY ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME PEOPLE ARE NOT RECEIVING THE SERVICES. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS AND FOR FACILITATING COORDINATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION AND OTHER AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS PROVIDING FREE SERVICES ARE PRESENTED. MORE FLEXIBLE IMPLEMENTATION OF FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES IS ALSO RECOMMENDED, AS IS THE USE OF NET INCOME RATHER THAN GROSS INCOME IN DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY. THE IMPACT OF SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS SHOULD BE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICE. SUGGESTIONS FOR PREPARING AGENCIES TO HANDLE INCREASED CLIENT LOADS ARE OFFERED. AN ANALYSIS OF LEGAL SERVICE FUNDING IN THE COUNTY FINDS THAT PRIVATE SOURCES ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 35 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL FUNDING. OF THE REMAINING 65 PERCENT, MOST IS PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE FORM OF A LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION GRANT TO THE MONROE COUNTY LEGAL ASSISTANCE CORPORATION. TOTAL FUNDING FOR LEGAL SERVICES TO THE POOR AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $741,000. SHORTCOMINGS IN THE COORDINATION AND REVIEW OF LEGAL SERVICE PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY ARE IDENTIFIED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A CENTRAL COORDINATING BODY MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING DUPLICATION, ORGANIZING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUNDING, AND PUBLICIZING THE AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SERVICES. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE APPENDED. (LKM)