NCJ Number
49716
Date Published
1978
Length
162 pages
Annotation
AN INMATE PARALEGAL TRAINING PROGRAM AND AN INMATE LEGAL SERVICES CLINIC COORDINATED BY THE YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION OF THE STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN ARE EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE TRAINING PROGRAM BEGAN IN EARLY 1976, WHEN 10 INMATES WERE SELECTED FROM A GROUP OF 56 APPLICANTS. THE CURRICULUM COVERED CONVENTIONAL PARALEGAL SKILLS AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF INMATE PARALEGALS WORKING IN A PRISON SETTING. VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS TAUGHT 46 PARALEGAL CLASSES. ANOTHER 12 CLASSES WERE TAUGHT BY THE PROJECT'S TRAINING COORDINATOR, PARALEGAL TRAINEES, OR SELF-TAUGHT INMATE PARALEGALS. EACH TRAINEE SERVED AN APPRENTICESHIP IN THE PRISON LEGAL AID CLINIC. THE CLINIC OPENED IN MARCH 1976. SERVICE ON APPEALS OF CRIMINAL CONVICTION WAS LIMITED TO AID STOPPING SHORT OF DIRECT REPRESENTATION. WITHIN THIS CONSTRAINT, ANY INMATE COULD RECEIVE SERVICE REGARDING ANY LEGAL PROBLEM. AS OF MAY 1977, THERE WERE 130 MEN ON THE CLINIC'S WAITING LIST. SURVEYS AND TESTS WERE CONDUCTED TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TRAINING AND LEGAL AID PROGRAMS. FINDINGS ARE REPORTED RELATIVE TO INMATE LEGAL NEEDS, RESOURCES, AND GENERAL ATTITUDES; KNOWLEDGE GAINS BY TRAINING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS; AND CLINIC CASELOADS, OPERATIONS, AND CLIENT SATISFACTION. PARALEGAL TRAINEES IMPROVED THEIR LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND BECAME MORE VISIBLE LEGAL RESOURCES FOR OTHER INMATES. INMATES GENERALLY REPORTED FAVORABLE ATTITUDES TOWARD BOTH THE TRAINING PROGRAM AND THE CLINIC. DURING ITS FIRST YEAR, THE CLINIC SERVED ABOUT 12 PERCENT OF ITS POTENTIAL CLIENT POPULATION. WAYS OF INCREASING STATE BAR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROGRAMS DURING THE PROJECT'S SECOND YEAR ARE SUGGESTED. AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, SUPPORTING DATA, EVALUATION INSTRUMENTS, AND AN OUTLINE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM CURRICULUM ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)