Reports

Slipping Through the Cracks2008: Slipping Through the Cracks: A Profile of Incarcerated Adults at the Caddo Correctional Center (March 12 - May 15, 2008)

“Slipping Through the Cracks” is a study of 100 pre-trial indigent defendants in the Caddo Correctional Center (CCC) conducted by the Louisiana Justice Coalition (LJC) during the spring of 2008 in collaboration with the Caddo Parish Office of the Public Defender. The study was designed to achieve the following objectives: Create a profile of clients in Caddo Parish based on their race, gender, income, age and criminal history; Assess the needs of the CCC prison population based on clients’ self-reported history of learning disabilities, mental illness, addiction, homelessness, incarceration, family life and employment; Record the scope and diversity of treatment options and alternatives to incarceration that clients request; Document the effect of incarceration on the lives of clients, their families, support systems and immediate communities, and; Identify trends in the collective experience of indigent defendants who have been represented previously by a public defender.

Unequal Justice PollSeptember 2006: Unequal Access to Justice: Louisiana Voters Consider Their Public Defender System

The 2006 survey of Louisiana voters assesses voters' awareness of and opinions on the current state of indigent defense in Louisiana, as well as gauges reaction to proposed changes to the system. LJC asked Belden Russonello & Stewart to conduct the statewide survey of registered voters by telephone from July 17 to July 28, 2006. Louisiana voters believe competent legal representation is a fundamental right in the U.S. and is necessary to prevent innocent people from going to jail. However, a large majority of Louisiana voters believes their state falls short of this ideals and suffers from an unequal justice system. To revamp the state's system of indigent defense, large majorities support a number of reforms from statewide standards on minimum levels of resources for public defenders, limits on the number of cases public defenders can undertake at one time, and a statewide oversight board.

LJC Report Card - Adult2005: Report Card on Adult Public Defense Services in Louisiana

This report card evaluates Louisiana’s compliance with the American Bar Association standards for a public defense system. Louisiana receives grades of ‘F’ in 8 of the 10 Principles.

Juvenile Report Card2005: Report Card on Juvenile Public Defense Services in Louisiana

This report card evaluates Louisiana’s compliance with the National Juvenile Defender Center and American Council of Chief Defender Ten Core Principles for quality delinquency representation. Louisiana fails every category.

The American Bar Association Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System2005: Standards of Justice: The American Bar Association Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System

This resource contextualizes the LJC Report Card by providing accessible information about the ABA Ten Principles.

The National Juvenile Defender Center and American Council of Chief Defenders Ten Core Principles for Providing Quality Delinquency Representation Through Indigent Defense Delivery Systems2005: Standards of Justice: The National Juvenile Defender Center and American Council of Chief Defenders Ten Core Principles for Providing Quality Delinquency Representation Through Indigent Defense Delivery Systems

This resource contextualizes the LJC Report Card by providing accessible information about the NJDC/ACCD Ten Core Principles.