NCJ Number
67347
Date Published
1978
Length
220 pages
Annotation
ADOPTING AN ORGANIZATIONAL MODE OF ANALYSIS TO ASSESS PUBLIC DEFENDER REPRESENTATION, THIS STUDY ASSESSES LOS ANGELES, CALIF., PUBLIC DEFENDER REPRESENTATION; THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING PUBLIC DEFENDER ADVOCACY FROM SEVERAL PERSPECTIVES IS EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
PRIMARY ISSUES RELATED TO LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY DEFENDER ATTORNEYS EMERGED FROM A SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE. THESE ISSUES WERE THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH DEFENDER ATTORNEYS PERFORM, THE NATURE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER RELATIONSHIPS WITH ACTORS IN THE COURT SYSTEM, THE EQUIVALENCE OF DEFENDER REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS WITH REPRESENTATION PROVIDED TO DEFENDANTS REPRESENTED BY PRIVATE ATTORNEYS, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER CAN ACHIEVE AUTONOMY. THE STUDY METHOD COMBINED OBSERVATION, INTERVIEW AND QUESTIONNAIRE DATA WITH STATISTICAL DATA ON CONVICTION AND SENTENCE OUTCOMES OF THE 1974 FELONY CASELOAD OVER A 6-MONTH PERIOD. INSTITUTIONAL DEFENSE LAWYERS WERE OBSERVED IN A VARIETY OF WORK SITUATIONS, RANGING FROM INTERVIEWING CLIENTS IN DETENTION LOCKUPS, TO FORMAL COURT PROCEEDINGS, TO INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DISTRIBUTED AMONG 365 TRIAL DEFENDERS; 60 PERCENT OF THESE WERE COMPLETED AND RETURNED. FINDINGS REVEAL THAT LAWYERS CONSISTENTLY SCORED PROFESSIONAL GOALS AS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. HOWEVER, THE INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTER OF PUBLIC DEFENDER ADVOCACY WAS FOUND TO POSE A SEVERE TEST FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFICE IN ACHIEVING A WORKABLE BALANCE BETWEEN EXPEDIENCY AND EFFICIENCY ON ONE HAND, AND EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION OF ITS CLIENTS ON THE OTHER. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. THE STUDY QUESTIONNAIRE IS APPENDED.