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Evaluation of the State (California) Public Defender - Final Report

NCJ Number
88466
Author(s)
R J Wilson; J R Neuhard; T A Gottfried; A Aiyetoro
Date Published
1982
Length
206 pages
Annotation
The California State Public Defender operates one of the finest State-funded defender programs in the country, including its internal administration, its service to the legal community, and its delivery of quality legal services to the indigents in criminal court.
Abstract
The work product is superior, and the program meets or exceeds national appellate standards for weighted caseload assignments and dispositions. The program has strong relationships with the criminal justice and legal communities and has been proven cost effective. It needs, however, more computerization and more personal client contact. The program should recruit more minority attorneys, sharpen its briefs, and adopt a conflict of interest policy. Other recommendations concern case assignment, oral argument, appeal withdrawal, discretionary appeal, training, director's selection, and other issues. Appendixes include evaluation materials, the enabling legislation, and relevant memoranda.