NCJ Number
36018
Date Published
1976
Length
187 pages
Annotation
MANUAL PROVIDING AN INSTRUMENT BY WHICH PUBLIC DEFENDERS CAN ASSESS THE QUALITY OF REPRESENTATION AFFORDED BY THEIR OFFICES THROUGH COMPARISON OF OFFICE PERFORMANCES WITH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE PROFESSION.
Abstract
THIS MANUAL IS PRIMARILY INTENDED FOR USE BY THE CHIEF DEFENDER OR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER WHO DESIRES TO EVALUATE THE QUALITY OF CLIENT REPRESENTATION GIVEN BY THE OFFICE, AS WELL AS SOME OF ITS MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS. IT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED TO HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT DEFENDER ISSUES; SPECIFY ACTIVITIES AGAINST WHICH PERFORMANCE SHOULD BE EVALUATED, PROVIDE A METHOD BY WHICH AN OFFICE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER IT IS OPERATING ACCORDING TO EXPECTED LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE, AND SUGGEST A GENERAL APPROACH TO OFFICE IMPROVEMENT. THE SELF-EVALUATION MANUAL CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF 14 TOPICS ON WHICH A DEFENDER OFFICE CAN EVALUATE ITSELF BEGINNING WITH A MAJOR/TOPIC QUESTION AND FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO GUIDE THE ASSESSMENT ON THAT TOPIC, SUGGESTIONS FOR REORGANIZATION IF STANDARDS ARE NOT MET, AND METHODS OF OBTAINING ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR WHICH DATA IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE. TOPICS RELATED TO PLANNING, ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION, AND CONTROL WITHIN A PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE ARE COVERED. AN APPENDIX CONTAINS VARIOUS NATIONAL STANDARDS RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF DEFENSE SERVICES. FOR A MODEL EVALUATION DESIGN INTENDED FOR USE BY OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS EVALUATING PERFORMANCE OF A PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, SEE NCJ-36019. FOR A PROJECT SUMMARY, SEE NCJ-36073.