Funders

The U.S. Constitution & the Supreme Court Standards for Organizing Defense Services & Client Representation Professional Duty of Lawyers Representing the Indigent Ineffective Assistance of Counsel: The Difficulty of Correcting Mistakes Conviction of the Innocent and the Importance of Counsel

Ch. 2: Indigent Defense Today

The Need for Reform is Decades Old Insufficient Funding The Burden of Too Much Work Other Impediments to Competent and Effective Defense Services

Ch. 3: How to Achieve Reform - Use of Litigation

Legal Theories Underlying Litigation Litigation Options: When and How Cases Are Presented Judiciary’s Authority to Provide Relief Lessons Learned from Prior Litigation

Ch. 4: How to Achieve Reform - Legislation

Legislative Background of State Oversight Commissions State Oversight Commissions Study Commissions

Ch. 5: Recommendations & Commentary

Introduction What States Should Do What the Federal Government Should Do What Individuals, Criminal Justice Agencies, and Bar Associations Should Do

Appendices

Click on the image above to download a PDF version of the full report.

Funders

The Constitution Project and the National Right to Counsel Committee are deeply grateful to the Open Society Institute and the Wallace Global Fund for their generous support of our work. Their commitment and vision are making a critical difference in the lives of millions.

Open Society Institute

The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. OSI places a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.
For more information, go to www.soros.org.

The Wallace Global Fund

The Wallace Global Fund is guided by the vision of the late Henry A. Wallace, former Secretary of Agriculture and Vice-President under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Committed to serving the general welfare, his life exemplified farsightedness, global vision, and receptivity to new ideas. He was keenly interested in scientific innovation as a force to enhance human well-being and had an abiding faith in the individual's spirit and capacity to bring about sound and just social change. Its mission is to promote and informed and engaged citizenry, to fight injustice, and to protect the diversity of nature and the natural systems upon which all life depends.
For more information, go to www.wgf.org.