Evaluation of the State (California) Public Defender - Final Report

• NCJ Number: 88466
• Author(s): R J Wilson; J R Neuhard; T A Gottfried; A Aiyetoro
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 206 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; California Office of Criminal Justice Planning
• Corporate Author: National Legal Aid and Defender Assoc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The California State Public Defender operates one of the finest State-funded defender programs in the country, including its internal administration, its service to the legal community, and its delivery of quality legal services to the indigents in criminal court.

Abstract

The work product is superior, and the program meets or exceeds national appellate standards for weighted caseload assignments and dispositions. The program has strong relationships with the criminal justice and legal communities and has been proven cost effective. It needs, however, more computerization and more personal client contact. The program should recruit more minority attorneys, sharpen its briefs, and adopt a conflict of interest policy. Other recommendations concern case assignment, oral argument, appeal withdrawal, discretionary appeal, training, director's selection, and other issues. Appendixes include evaluation materials, the enabling legislation, and relevant memoranda.