Publications

    Here you will find recent books and reports concerning indigent criminal defense, as well as links to archived materials.

    New Report!

    Privatization of Services in the Criminal Justice System

    Released in June, 2020, this Report provides an comprehensive overview of the role private companies play throughout the criminal justice system and how the use of these private companies impacts low-income individuals moving through the system. The report summarizes research done by other entities, academics, journalists, and activists on specific aspects of privatization. The organization of the report tracks the sequence of a typical accused individual's experiences in the criminal justice system following arrest, demonstrating how costs compound as the individual moves through the system.

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    Featured Publications

    Exemplary Defense: A Study of Three Groundbreaking Projects in Public Defense

    The Exemplary Defense Report is a study of three inventive programs in public defense: (1) The Decarceration Project of The Legal Aid Society in New York City, New York; (2) The Future Appointed Counsel Training (FACT) Program in Harris County, Texas; and (3) The Independent Juvenile Defender Program in Los Angeles, California. The Report documents the formation of these projects and their successes. The goals of the Report are to encourage and assist other public defense providers in replicating the work of the recognized projects and pursuing their own innovation.

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    The Rhode Island Project: A Study of the Rhode Island Public Defender System and Attorney Workload Standards

    A study conducted by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and BlumShapiro to establish public defense workload standards for the State of Rhode Island, called The Rhode Island Project.

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    The Colorado Project: A Study of the Colorado Public Defender System and Attorney Workload Standards

    A study conducted by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense and Rubin Brown LLP on behalf of the Colorado Office of State Public Defender to establish public defense workload standards for the State of Colorado, called The Colorado Project.

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    The Louisiana Project: A Study of the Louisiana Public Defenders System and Attorney Workload Standards

    A study conducted by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense and Postlethwaite & Netterville, APAC on behalf of the Louisiana Public Defender Board to establish public defense workload standards for the State of Louisiana, called the Louisiana Project.

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    Missouri Workload Study Report and National Blueprint

    Workload studies are a critical first step in improving public defender systems. This groundbreaking report not only documents the Missouri Project workload study, but also provides a National Blueprint for future studies.

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    Ten Guidelines on Court Fines and Fees

    These guidelines provide practical direction for government officials, policymakers and others charged with developing, reforming and administering court fines and fees. The guidelines seek to ensure that fines and fees are fairly imposed and administered and that the justice system does not punish people for the "crime" of being poor.

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    Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System

    The standards for delivering indigent criminal defense that is effective, efficient, ethical, and conflict-free.

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    Eight Guidelines of Public Defense Related to Excessive Workloads

    Essential guidance for the thousands of attorneys who provide indigent criminal defense and suffer from excessive workloads.

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    How to Improve Your Public Defense Office

    How to Improve Your Public Defense Office
    The Slow Justice Movement

    The Slow Justice Movement
    Public Defense: The New York Story

    Public Defense: The New York Story
    Indigency Guidelines

    Indigency Guidelines
    National Indigent Defense Reform: The Solution is Multifaceted

    National Indigent Defense Reform: The Solution is Multifaceted
    Executive Summary and Recommendations: Securing Reasonable Caseloads: Ethics and Law in Public Defense 2012

    Executive Summary and Recommendations: Securing Reasonable Caseloads: Ethics and Law in Public Defense 2012
    Securing Reasonable Caseloads: Ethics and Law in Public Defense 2011

    Securing Reasonable Caseloads: Ethics and Law in Public Defense 2011

    Primary Indigent Defense Delivery System at Trial Level *

    * SOURCE: The Spangenberg Group ("primary indigent defense delivery system" refers to the program appointed in more than 50% of the state's indigent defense cases at the trial level). Each state below links to a short PDF summary of testimony regarding that state's indigent defense problems, reform efforts, and model approaches.