NCJ Number
54785
Date Published
1977
Length
31 pages
Annotation
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF VARIOUS LEGAL DELIVERY SYSTEM TO PRISONERS ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE PRISON LEGAL SERVICES PROJECT IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE VARIOUS ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE TO STATES THAT WANT TO SATISFY LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE PRISONERS WITH MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO THE COURTS: (1) LAW STUDENTS AS LEGAL COUSELORS, (2) JAILHOUSE LAWYERS AS LEGAL COUNSELORS, (3) PROGRAMS STAFFED BY RESIDENT ATTORNEYS, AND (4) EXPANDING THE DUTIES OF AN ALREADY EXISTING GROUP SUCH AS THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. EACH OF THESE ALTERNATIVES IS DESCRIBED AND ITS ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES DISCUSSED. WASHINGTON'S LEGAL SERVICES TO PRISONERS PROJECT IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED AS A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF A STATE'S ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL LEGAL SERVICE TO PRISONERS. THE PROJECT PROVIDES SERVICE TO THE FOUR MAJOR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE TWO HONOR CAMPS IN THE STATE. THE STAFF IS FORMALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVISION OF CIVIL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO INMATES AND THEIR FAMILIES. INDIVIDUAL INMATES ARE INTERVIEWED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAVE ANY UNRESOLVED CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS, AND WHEN IT IS DETERMINED THAT A CIVIL LEGAL MATTER NEEDS PROFESSIONAL ATTENTION, AND IS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PROBLEMS CONSIDERED, LEGAL ASSISTANCE IS GIVEN. INFORMALLY, THE STAFF CAN SERVE TO BRIDGE THE COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN PRISON INMATES AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF, MUCH IN THE MANNER OF AN OMBUDSMAN. DETAILS OF SERVICE PROCEDURES ARE DESCRIBED. TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT, DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM A COHORT OF PRISONERS COMMITTED TO THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES BY A WASHINGTON STATE SUPERIOR COURT BETWEEN JUNE 1, 1974 AND AUGUST 31, 1974. AFTER AN INTERVAL OF MONTHS AFTER INCARCERATION, DURING THE LAST WEEK IN FEBRUARY, 1975, 198 OF THE ORIGINAL 241 MEN WERE CONTACTED AND INDIVIDUALLY INTERVIEWED FOR THEIR VIEWS OF THE LEGAL AID PROJECT WHICH HAS BEEN AVAILABLE TO THEM. THE PROJECT DEMONSTRATED ITS EFFECTIVENESS BY GAINING RELIEF IN OVER 80 PERCENT OF THE CASES FILED, AND WELL OVER HALF OF ITS CLIENTS WERE SATISFIED WITH ITS SERVICES. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT ARE OFFERED, AND THE DATA OBTAINED ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES. (RCB)