NCJ Number
52391
Date Published
1978
Length
233 pages
Annotation
A PORTRAIT OF THE PRIVATELY RETAINED COUNSEL IN CRIMINAL CASES IS PRESENTED, BASED ON NATIONWIDE INTERVIEWS WITH NEARLY 200 PRIVATE DEFENSE COUNSEL ATTORNEYS IN NINE CITIES.
Abstract
COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., PHILADELPHIA, PA., CHICAGO, ILL., HOUSTON, TEX., MIAMI, FLA., LOS ANGELES, CALIF., SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., NEW ORLEANS, LA., AND DENVER, COLO., WERE INTERVIEWED DURING A 1-YEAR PERIOD. IN ADDITION TO PRESENTING A DEMOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THIS NATIONAL SAMPLE OF CRIMINAL LAWYERS, THIS BOOK ALSO DESCRIBES THEIR PROFESSIONAL SUBCULTURE BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE COURTROOM, AS WELL AS ANALYZING THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, LAWS, AND POLICIES UPON THEIR PRACTICE. FOLLOWING AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESEARCH METHOD, SAMPLE, AND LITERATURE SURVEY, THE BACKGROUNDS, PERSONALITIES, CAREER PATTERNS, AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OF DEFENSE ATTORNEYS ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH PRETRIAL MATTERS, COURTROOM PERFORMANCE, AND RELATIONS BETWEEN LAWYERS, CLIENTS, AND AUTHORITIES. FINALLY, REALISTIC ALTERNATIVES ARE OFFERED TO THE MANY STEREOTYPES AND MYTHS THAT SURROUND THE PRACTICE OF CRIMINAL LAW. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED, AS ARE REFERENCE NOTES FOR EACH CHAPTER. A LIST OF THE RESPONDENTS AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE ALSO PROVIDED. (KBL)