Maximizing Public Defender Resources Management Report

• NCJ Number: 96014
• Date Published: 1983
• Author(s): R L Spangenberg; P A Smith
• Length: 189 pages
• Grant Number(s): 81-IJ-CX-0028
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

A literature review and a telephone survey were conducted, and two rounds of site visits were made to identify practical and effective means for improving how public defender offices manage their daily workload, allocate their limited resources, and plan for future workload demands.

Abstract

This report deals with the direct delivery of public defender services to the indigent, focuses on personnel management practices, describes the development of caseload/workload standards in sample jurisdictions -Florida, Colorado, Minnesota, and Oregon -- and examines administrative practices and procedures for public defender programs. The management practices described are categorized as public defender service delivery; personnel management; managing public defender resources; caseload control, using program standards and the budget process; and administering the public defender program. Methods of increasing efficiency include early representation, representation by a single attorney throughout the case, and organization of staff attorneys into teams. Some public defender programs find it cost-effective to use legal assistants for many of the tasks typically performed by attorneys. One promising approach to managing public defender resources is the limitation of services provided through the use of caseload/workload standards. Methods of limiting public defender caseloads are through litigation, legislation, and administration. The management techniques identified in this report show potential for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the average public defender program. The appendixes contain the literature review bibliography and materials from the sample jurisdictions.