OPERATING A DEFENDER OFFICE - TRAINER'S HANDBOOK

• NCJ Number: 66551
• Author(s): B E DORWORTH; L A BENNER; N A GOLDBERG; M J HARTMAN; H S JACOBSON; B E MCFADDEN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 286 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-022-76
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Justice (NIJ); US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: University Research Corporation
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH UTILIZATION PROGRAM (FORMERLY NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM)

Annotation

A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MANAGERS OF DEFENDER OFFICES IS OUTLINED TO IMPROVE PUBLICLY FINANCED PROVISION OF COUNSEL FOR PERSONS WHO CANNOT PAY FOR IT.

Abstract

THIS WORKSHOP HANDBOOK IS PART OF THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM GEARED TO TRANSMITTING RESEARCH TO PRACTITIONERS FOR MORE INFORMED DECISIONMAKING AND GREATER EFFECTIVENESS AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL. SINCE THE 1972 SUPREME COURT DECISION MANDATING COUNSEL FOR ALL DEFENDANTS, STATE AND LOCAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE ESTABLISHED A NATIONWIDE TOTAL OF 1,000 PUBLICLY FINANCED DEFENDER OFFICES. AREAS WHERE DEFENDER OFFICES COULD BENEFIT FROM IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING TECHNIQES ARE PRESENTED IN THIS HANDBOOK. THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO INDICATE HOW DEFENDER OFFICES CAN BEST ORGANIZE, MONITOR, AND MANAGE FOR EFFECTIVE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO CLIENTS. THE MAJOR TOPICS ARE CASE MANAGEMENT, BUDGETING, PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, AND EXTERNAL OFFICE RELATIONSHIPS. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION CONCERNS HANDLING WORKLOAD ANALYSIS AND FORECASTING FUTURE STAFF NEEDS; DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING DATA-KEEPING INSTRUMENTS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT; AND PRESENTING, JUSTIFYING, AND MARKETING THE BUDGET. MONITORING, CONTROLLING, AND RETRIEVING INFORMATION FOR BUDGET REQUESTS IS DISCUSSED. THE HANDBOOK ALSO COVERS A PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL SYSTEM, TEAM-BUILDING FOR STAFF EFFECTIVENESS, PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING GOOD COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND USING VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE. THE CURRICULUM USES PROBLEM-SOLVING EXERCISES AND PARTICIPANT INTERACTION. TABULAR DATA, ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL, EXERCISE WORKSHEETS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED.