NCJ Number
237360
Date Published
February 2010
Length
71 pages
Annotation
This booklet presents the agenda, including workshop topics, of a symposium that brought together leaders from across the Nation - public defenders, prosecutors, judges, legislators, and advocates for the indigent - in order to discuss issues and develop action plans for improving services to indigent defendants.
Abstract
The symposium - which was held in Washington, DC, February 18-19, 2010 - was entitled "Looking Back, Looking Forward, 2000-2010." Following opening proceedings, a keynote address was delivered by Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. A plenary session then focused on "Fulfilling the Promise of Counsel." The panel of leaders from various domains of criminal justice considered lessons learned from failed attempts at public defense reform as well as successful efforts, along with what remains to be done in ensuring the right to counsel in America. The first morning's eight concurrent workshops considered litigation solutions to the current crisis in indigent defense, legislative changes in public defense services, how investigative reports can support defense reform, the evolving role of the public defender, indigent defense and criminal justice reform, effective representation in relation to drug courts, the privatization of juvenile punishment, and meaningful change in systemic advocacy and juvenile defense. Following the morning workshops, State delegation discussion were held, followed by a plenary panel on "Innovations in Juvenile Defense Reform." Seven afternoon workshops focused on defense services for indigent youth, followed by a plenary session on "Indigent Defense Reform: The Many Modes of Collaboration." On the symposium's second day, eight morning workshops focused on collaborations that can improve defense services for indigent defendants. A plenary session discussed "Ensuring Quality Representation." Eight late-morning workshops discussed examples of and standards for improving the quality of defense services by assigned and public defense counsel. Speaker biographies and a participant list