NCJ Number
34359
Date Published
1976
Length
250 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT TO DEVELOP COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO INDIGENT DEFENDENTS IN EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS.
Abstract
THE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN RESPONSE TO STEADILY INCREASING COUNTY EXPENDITURES FOR SUCH LEGAL SERVICES. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH PROJECT GOALS, AN ON-SITE STUDY WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF THE COUNTY'S COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE LEGAL DEFENSE SYSTEMS TO ANALYZE THE CAPABILITY OF THESE SYSTEMS FOR PROVISION OF QUALITY REPRESENTATION AT A REASONABLE COST TO THE TAXPAYERS. THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THAT EL PASO COUNTY ESTABLISH A MIXED DEFENSE SYSTEM, CONSISTING OF A DEFENDER OFFICE AND A COORDINATEDASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM TO PROVIDE DEFENSE SERVICES TO CRIMINALLY ACCUSED INDIGENTS. SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE CLIENTS WOULD BE REFFERED TO THE DEFENDER OFFICE (WITH THOSE REMAINING REFERRED TO THE COORDINATED-ASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM) BY AN INDEPENDENT ADVISORY BOARD, COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE JUDICIARY, THE PRIVATE BAR, THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THE CLIENT COMMUNITY. THE BOARD WOULD ALSO APPOINT THE CHIEF DEFENDER AND THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE COORDINATEDASSIGNED COUNSEL PROGRAM AND PROVIDE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF THE SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)