SURVEY OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROBLEMS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS - FINAL REPORT, V 2 - ACCESS TO LEGAL REFERENCE MATERIALS IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

• NCJ Number: 15705
• Author(s): M LEDONNE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 93 pages
• Grant Number(s): OEG-0-72-2531
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIPTION OF THE EFFORTS MADE BY STATES IN RESPONSE TO THE FEDERAL SUPREME COURT RULING THAT INMATES MUST BE PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE LEGAL COUNSEL OR ADEQUATE ACCESS TO LEGAL REFERENCE MATERIALS.

Abstract

DATA IS INCLUDED FROM AN UNPUBLISHED REPORT PREPARED FOR PARTICIPANTS IN A SEMINAR ON LEGAL REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR OFFENDERS, FUNDED BY THE U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION AND JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION AND THE INSTITUTE OF LIBRARY RESEARCH. ORIGINAL DATA WERE GATHERED FROM INSTITUTIONAL CONSULTANTS IN A MARCH 1972 QUESTIONNAIRE AND WERE UPDATED AND EXPANDED THROUGH LATER CONTACTS WITH INSTITUTIONAL CONSULTANTS. RESULTS OF A STATE-BY-STATE REVIEW OF LEGAL REFERENCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE TO INMATES SHOW THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF CONCERN AND EFFORT IN NEARLY ALL STATES FOR MEETING THE FEDERAL SUPREME COURT MANDATE. FEW STATES HAVE PROVIDED LAW COLLECTIONS WHICH MEET ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES. FUNDING TO SECURE LEGAL MATERIALS HAS BEEN THE GREATEST OBSTACLE. A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE SURVEY IS INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIX. FOR OTHER VOLUMES TO THIS DOCUMENT, SEE NCJ015704, 015706, AND 015707. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)