NCJ Number
47750
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 41 Issue: 3 Dated: (1977) Pages: 8-15
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO DELINQUENTS (LAD) IN MINNESOTA IS DESCRIBED. LAD SEEKS TO PROTECT THE LEGAL RIGHTS OF INSTITUTIONALIZED DELINQUENTS THROUGH SERVICE DELIVERY AND ADVOCACY.
Abstract
A MAJOR PROBLEM INVOLVED IS LOCATING THE POPULATION TO BE SERVED, WHICH, UNLIKE ADULT OFFENDERS, IS SPREAD OUT AMONG NUMEROUS GROUP HOMES, COUNTY AND STATE FACILITIES, AND HALFWAY HOUSES. DUE TO MANPOWER LIMITATIONS, POPULATIONS IN THE MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AREA WERE PRIMARILY SERVED. TO REACH POTENTIAL CLIENTS, ORIENTATION MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH THE INSTITUTIONAL STAFFS AND WITH THE YOUTH, AND EXPLANATORY POSTERS AND STAMPED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPES WITH SERVICE REQUEST FORMS WERE MADE AVAILABLE. IN GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL APPEARED COMFORTABLE WITH THE LAD PROGRAM, REFERRED YOUTH TO THE PROGRAM, AND COOPERATED IN MAKING YOUTH WITH CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS ACCESSIBLE TO LAD PERSONNEL. LAD POLICIES ON INTERVIEWS, ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, AND DUE PROCESS PROCEDURES WERE ESTABLISHED. LAD ATTORNEYS ALSO OFFERED HELP TO STAFF MEMBERS WITH LEGAL PROBLEMS WHEN THERE WAS NO CONFLICT OF INTERESTS AND EDUCATED STAFF MEMBERS ON LEGAL PRINCIPLES THROUGH INFORMAL DISCUSSIONS. OF AN ESTIMATED SERVICE POPULATION OF 450 TO 500, 217 YOUTH-CLIENTS BROUGHT A TOTAL OF 307 PROBLEMS TO LAD. ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF THESE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE YOUTH'S SITUATION VIS-A-VIS THE POLICE, COURT, OR THE FACILITY. THE NEXT LARGEST CATEGORY PERTAINED TO QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT INSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES OR CARE. ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS CONCERNED PUBLIC WELFARE, DOMESTIC PROBLEMS, AND FINANCIAL AND PROPERTY MATTERS. THROUGH ITS WORK, LAD HAD REAL IMPACT ON THE COMPLEX HUMAN ROLES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN INSTITUTIONS AND THE GROUP HOME COMPONENT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROGRAM AIDED IN ENHANCING THE SELF-CONCEPTS OF THE JUVENILES, PROTECTING THE YOUTH AGAINST ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND VIOLATION OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS, AND UPGRADING FAIRNESS AND EQUITY FOR ALL CONCERNED. FOR INSTANCE, THROUGH LAD INTERVENTION, JUVENILES FELT THEY HAD A PROTECTIVE ALLY, LEGALLY DEFECTIVE OR INADEQUATE INSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS WERE REMEDIED, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE JUVENILES WERE DEFENDED. AGENCY RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAM VARIED. MANY AGENCIES EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY LAD. A FEW AGENCIES, HOWEVER, BECAME INCREASINGLY HOSTILE TOWARD THE PROGRAM EVEN WHEN THERE HAD BEEN LITTLE OR NO CONFLICT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A FORMAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL PRIOR TO INITIATION OF SUCH A PROGRAM COULD RESULT IN MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDES. (JAP)