NCJ Number
59196
Date Published
1979
Length
79 pages
Annotation
THE FEDERAL DEFENDER OFFICE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE PARENT ORGANIZATION, THE LEGAL AID AND DEFENDER ASSOCIATION OF DETROIT, MICH., IS EVALUATED IN THIS REPORT.
Abstract
THE FEDERAL DEFENDER OFFICE, WHICH REPRESENTS INDIGENT CITIZENS ACCUSED OF FEDERAL OFFENSES BEFORE THE FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MICH., EASTERN DIVISION, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1972 AS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE LEGAL AID AND DEFENDER ASSOCIATION OF DETROIT (LADA). THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DEFENSE MANAGEMENT AND THE NATIONAL LEGAL AID AND DEFENDER ASSOCIATION WERE COMMISSIONED TO UNDERTAKE AN EVALUATION OF LADA'S DEFENSE OFFICES IN WAYNE COUNTY, MICH., FOCUSING ON THE EFFICIENCY OF INTERNAL OPERATIONAL PRACTICES, ADEQUACY OF STAFF SIZE AND RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL TRAINING PROGRAMS, EFFECTIVENESS OF RELATIONS WITH THE PRIVATE BAR AND THE COMMUNITY, AND THE IMPACT OF THE COURT DELAY REDUCTION PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THE EVALUATION EXAMINED THE EXTENT OF OPERATIONAL COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG THE THREE LEGAL SERVICES (THE DEFENDER OFFICE, THE FEDERAL DEFENDER OFFICE, AND THE JUVENILE DEFENDER OFFICE), THE ADEQUACY OF FUNDING, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF OVERALL QUALITY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LEGAL REPRESENTATION PROVIDED BY THESE SERVICES. DATA WERE COLLECTED DURING 1977 THROUGH LITERATURE REVIEWS AND EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH COURT SYSTEM PERSONNEL, MEMBERS OF THE DEFENDER SERVICES, AND SERVICE CLIENTS. EVEN THOUGH THE FEDERAL DEFENDER OFFICE IS HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND PROVIDES ABOVE AVERAGE QUALITY REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENTS, THE PROGRAM SHOULD ACT TO OBTAIN INCREASED FUNDING FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE U.S. COURTS AND MAXIMUM COOPERATION WITH RELATED AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN DETROIT. THE CHIEF DEFENDER SHOULD DEVELOP A STRUCTURED IN-HOUSE TRAINING PROGRAM, WITH PERIODIC ROTATION OF STAFF TRIAL ATTORNEYS INTO THE APPELLATE SECTION, AS A TRAINING DEVICE. THIS TRAINING PROGRAM SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY EFFORTS TO OBTAIN CAREER COMMITMENTS FROM THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF. SUCH COMMITMENTS CAN BE HEIGHTENED BY OFFERING SALARIES COMPARABLE TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. IN ADDITION TO SEVERAL OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, THE REPORT SUGGESTS THAT THERE SHOULD BE ONE FULL-TIME TRAINED INVESTIGATOR FOR EVERY FOUR STAFF ATTORNEYS. A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT, A CHART OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, AND CONSULTANT TEAM RESUMES ARE APPENDED. (KCP)