ExtraLegal Needs Assessments

In 2008, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation awarded LJC $5,000 in unrestricted funds to support the development of an extralegal needs assessment. LJC partnered with a doctoral student and a statistician at the Louisiana State University (LSU) School of Social Work to commission an “assessment instrument” and protocol that could be uniformly applied in any prison in Louisiana to capture a holistic picture of the community of indigent, incarcerated defendants who were appointed legal services from the public defender.

The “Extralegal Needs Assessment” instrument addresses the following areas of information: demographic information; arrest/criminal background; educational background/literacy; living situation; family information; physical abuse; sexual abuse and assault; employment and income; substance abuse; mental health; health; and, current legal status.

The instrument has approximately 200 questions and takes 30-45 minutes to administer. The protocol requires that at least 1/3 of the total qualifying population be sampled, unless the pool is less than 125 possible interviews. If it is less, the instrument is implemented to the entire population. The assessment is always done with the support of the District Defender, who provides permission for us to interview clients who have been appointed lawyers who work (as staff or by contract) for the district public defender office. Participation by the client is voluntary and all information is kept confidential. Data is entered into a database and issues a report at the conclusion of the assessment. LJC has collaborated with the District Defender to conduct assessments in Caddo, Calcasieu, Natchitoches (male only), East Baton Rouge (female only) and Plaquemines Parish prisons. LJC received 2021 funding to conduct the assessment Vernon Parish prison. The Extralegal Needs Assessment in Calcasieu Parish was supported by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

LJC is now working with the Louisiana Public Defender Board to administer the “Extralegal Needs Survey” as part of the orientation services for incoming District Defenders in district public defender offices.


To read coverage of this project in the August 2009 Champion Magazine, click HERE

To read the May 31, 2009 Calcasieu Parish Report, “Behind Bars in Calcasieu Parish: An Assessment of the Legal Needs of Pre-Trial Defendants Appointed to the Calcasieu Public Defender’s Office”, click HERE

To read the July 2008 Caddo Parish Report, “Behind Bars in Caddo Parish: A Profile of Incarcerated Adults at Caddo Correctional Center”, click HERE

To read the July 2008 LJC Press Release and Summary of the “Behind Bars in Caddo Parish” report, click HERE

To read the Shreveport Times coverage of the report release, click HERE

For more information about the ExtraLegal Needs Assessment, contact the Louisiana Justice Coalition at