NCJ Number
61505
Date Published
1978
Length
145 pages
Annotation
IN PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR, THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION (LSC) AND ITS GRANTEES MUST IMPROVE OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
Abstract
THE LSC CURRENTLY FUNDS OVER 300 NATIONWIDE LEGAL SERVICES PROJECTS FOR THE POOR AND RECEIVED $270 MILLION IN APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1979. THE LSC REQUIRES ITS PROJECTS, OR GRANTEES, TO PERIODICALLY ASSESS THE VIEWS OF THEIR CLIENT COMMUNITIES IN ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES, BUT MANY GRANTEES HAVE NEITHER THE TIME NOR THE RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK. ALTHOUGH OUTREACH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF LSC PROGRAMS, ONLY 30 OUT OF THE 300 PROJECTS SPONSOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. A STUDY DONE BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) INDICATED THAT ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE ELIGIBLE POOR DID NOT KNOW OF LSC PROJECTS. GAO RECOMMENDED THAT LSC EXPLORE ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES FOR PROJECTS; GUIDE GRANTEES IN IDENTIFYING RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES; ENCOURAGE GRANTEES TO SEEK SUPPORT OF BAR ASSOCIATIONS, LAW SCHOOLS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND COMMUNITY SERVICES; INFORM GRANTEES OF NEW WAYS TO ASSESS LOCAL LEGAL NEEDS OF INDIGENT GROUPS; GUIDE GRANTEES IN PERFORMING PERIODIC NEEDS ASSESSMENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES; REQUIRE GRANTEES TO SUBMIT PLANS FOR COMMUNITY LEGAL EDUCATION ALONG WITH BUDGETS; AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. APPENDIXES CONTAIN A DETAILED ESTIMATE OF NON-LSC FUNDING FOR THE LEGAL SERVICES PROJECTS AND A QUESTIONNAIRE. (PAP)