NCJ Number
49648
Date Published
1978
Length
36 pages
Annotation
THIS PROJECT INVOLVED THE COLLECTION OF DATA ON THE DELIVERY OF LEGAL SERVICES TO INMATES IN THE BALTIMORE, MD., CITY JAIL AND INMATE PERCEPTIONS OF THE QUALITY OF LEGAL SERVICES.
Abstract
AN 80-ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DEVISED AND ADMINISTERED TO REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES OF INMATES IN NOVEMBER 1975 (269 INMATES), MAY 1976 (257 INMATES), AND AUGUST 1977 (251 INMATES). TWELVE FIELD INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF OF THE JAIL, ELECTED INMATE LEADERS, AND CITY AND STATE OFFICIALS. MOST OF THE INMATES WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY POOR, BLACK, UNDEREDUCATED, AND UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED MALES. THE AVERAGE RANGE OF INCARCERATION WAS 31 TO 90 DAYS, ALTHOUGH NEARLY HALF HAD BEEN IN JAIL LONGER THAN 90 DAYS. ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF THE INMATES WERE CHARGED WITH SERIOUS CRIMES, AND ABOUT 25 PERCENT ADMITTED HAVING DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS. THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF BAIL REPORTED ON ALL THREE SURVEYS WAS WITHIN THE $500 TO $5,000 RANGE. MANY INMATES WERE INCARCERATED SOLELY DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO MEET BAIL, AND THIS PROBLEM APPARENTLY AFFECTED INMATE MORALE ADVERSELY. THE PERCENTAGE OF INMATES RECEIVING LEGAL SERVICES IN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE BAIL INCREASED OVER THE SURVEY PERIODS, BUT THE PERCENTAGE HAVING BAIL REDUCTION MOTIONS OR PETITIONS FILED IN THEIR BEHALF DECLINED. THE 1977 SURVEY INDICATED THAT THE NUMBER OF INMATES WITHOUT LEGAL COUNSEL NEARLY EQUALED THE NUMBER OF INMATES WITH LAWYERS; THIS REPRESENTED A DECLINE IN THE EXTENT OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD. CONTACT BETWEEN LAWYERS AND THEIR INCARCERATED CLIENTS APPEARED TO BE LIMITED. NEARLY HALF OF ALL INMATES DID NOT BELIEVE THAT LAWYERS WERE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR NEEDS AND REQUESTS. NOTABLE IMPROVEMENT OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF TRIALS AND DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS. LEGAL AID WAS ONE OF THE LEAST DEVELOPED AND LEAST UTILIZED SERVICES OPERANT IN THE JAIL. INMATES REGARDED THE QUALITY OF LEGAL AID AS GENERALLY UNSATISFACTORY; ABOUT HALF PERCEIVED IT AS VERY POOR. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES TO INMATES ARE OFFERED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR AN ADMINISTRATOR OF INMATE LEGAL SERVICES; THE QUESTIONNAIRE USED IN THE BALTIMORE SURVEY; AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OFFENSE CATEGORIES, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROCESS, AND PRETRIAL RELEASE. (DEP)