State and Federal Habeas in Four States (From Habeas Corpus in State and Federal Courts, P 25-34, 1994, Victor E. Flango - See NCJ-149658)

• NCJ Number: 149660
• Author(s): V E Flango
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: National Ctr for State Courts; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services; State Justice Institute
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study of habeas corpus petitions filed in State and Federal courts employed a quasi-experimental design to track habeas petitions filed by State prisoners in California, Texas, New York, and Alabama.

Abstract

Sites were selected according to several criteria: absolute number of habeas petitions filed in Federal court; the proportion of habeas petitions to State prisoner population; geographic diversity among sites; States with a death penalty and States without a death penalty; and States having the court records necessary to complete the study. Samples of habeas petitions were drawn from each State's highest criminal courts to ensure a sample that was representative of petitions disposed in the State as a whole. The Advisory Committee of this research effort helped staff identify the data elements required to test key propositions. A coding sheet of minimum essential data elements was prepared, reviewed, refined, and pretested in Arizona. Implications of the pretest for the research design are discussed here. 2 tables and 11 notes