MINNESOTA - DEFENDER EVALUATION - CRIMINAL COURTS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 39828
• Author(s): J J CLEARY; T A GOTTFRIED; P J HUGHES; B R JACOB; S C VANNESS; J D SCHULLENBERGER; V J ZICARDI
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 70 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-043-72
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN ANALYSIS, DATED JULY 1973, OF THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM WHICH CONSISTS OF TWO INDEPENDENT AND SEVEN STATE ADMINISTERED OPERATIONS.

Abstract

THE MINNESOTA JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THE INCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED. THE STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE VARIOUS DISTRICT DEFENDER SERVICES ARE EVALUATED BY SUCH ASPECTS AS OFFICE STRUCTURE, PERSONNEL, OFFICE FACILITIES, CASELOADS, TRAINING PROGRAMS, RECORD KEEPING SYSTEMS, AND CLIENTS' AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE DEFENDER SYSTEM. JUVENILE COURT DEFENDER SERVICES AND VARIOUS MINNESOTA LAW SCHOOL CLINICAL PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE MISDEMEANOR PROGRAM, THE JUVENILE LAW COURSE, AND THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO MINNESOTA PRISONERS PROGRAM ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. THE CONSULTANTS RECOMMEND ELIMINATION OF LOCAL JUDICIAL CONTROL OF PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICES, UNIFICATION OF DEFENDER SERVICES AT STATE OR JUDICIAL DISTRICT LEVELS, USE OF FULL-TIME IN LIEU OF PART-TIME DEFENSE ATTORNEYS, AND ADOPTION OF A RULE REQUIRING THE DISTRICT COURT TO NOTIFY A SENTENCED DEFENDANT ABOUT HIS RIGHT TO APPEAL. APPENDIXES INCLUDE A PARTIAL LIST OF PERSONS INTERVIEWED, A MAP OF MINNESOTA JUDICIAL DISTRICTS, AND A MODEL CASE DIARY AND USE OF TIME SHEET....TWH