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| Document Summary | - Report Published - |
House Document No. 32
PUBLICATION YEAR 2002 | |
| Document Title |
| Indigent Defense |
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| Author |
| Virginia State Crime Commission |
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| Enabling Authority |
| HJR 178 (2000) |
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| Executive Summary |
House Joint Resolution (HJR) 178 requested the Virginia State Crime Commission to study the existing methods for providing indigent defense in Virginia. Using the study resolution directives, the Crime Commission addressed two overall issues: the respective levels of quality between Court Appointed Counsel and Public Defenders, and the cost effectiveness of Public Defender Offices versus the court appointed system.
To study these issues, both statistical and survey analyses were used. First, Pre-Sentence Investigation (PSI) reports were used to conduct multivariate regression analyses to determine if there were any statistically significant differences in sentencing outcomes between those defendants who had been represented by a Court Appointed Attorney, and those who had been represented by a Public Defender. Second, to examine the cost effectiveness of Public Defenders versus Court Appointed Counsel, Virginia Supreme Court reimbursements data paid to Court Appointed Counsel for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 and Public Defender Commission data was analyzed to compare the relative costs of indigent services by both groups of counsel. Finally, attitudinal survey results were examined to determine the perceived need for change in providing indigent defense services in Virginia. |
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