NCJ Number
15672
Date Published
1973
Length
62 pages
Annotation
THIS PROJECT, BEGUN IN 1971, EMPLOYS TWO FULL-TIME ATTORNEYS AND A SECRETARY TO PROVIDE DEFENSE SERVICES FOR ALL INDIGENT DEFENDANTS IN A TEN-COUNTY REGION AROUND BISMARCK REPRESENTING A POPULATION OF OVER 100 THOUSAND.
Abstract
EVALUATORS COMPARED THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF CASES HANDLED IN PROJECT YEARS WITH THE YEAR PRECEDING THE GRANT, ASCERTAINED THE OPINIONS OF JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, ATTORNEYS, AND CLIENTS ON PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, AND ANALYZED THE PROGRAM AS A COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO THE PRIOR SYSTEM OF COURT APPOINTED COUNSEL. THE RESEARCH METHODS USED WERE LEGAL RESEARCH INTO THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENTS AND STATE EFFORTS TO PROTECT THOSE RIGHTS, FIELD SURVEYS OF PROJECT OPERATIONS, A STUDY OF CASES TO WHICH ATTORNEYS WERE APPOINTED IN A COMPARISON COUNTY, AND AN EXAMINATION OF SELECTED CASE FILES. STUDY RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE PROGRAM PROVIDES BETTER THAN AVERAGE DEFENSE SERVICES, EMPLOYS DEDICATED PERSONNEL, AND SHOULD BE CONTINUED. HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM COSTS MORE THAN ASSIGNED COUNSEL. THE PROJECT HAD ALSO FAILED TO COMPILE NECESSARY CASE AND CASELOAD STATISTICS. RECOMMENDATIONS COVER EXPANSION OF PROGRAM SERVICES TO INCLUDE JUVENILE, MUNICIPAL, AND FEDERAL COURTS, UTILIZATION OF LAW STUDENTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MANPOWER, AND INCREASED ALLOCATIONS FOR ATTORNEY SALARIES. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A STATE BY STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER COST COMPARISON AND AN OUTLINE OF THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES FOR BOTH TYPES OF INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES.