Updates and Products

Breaking News: SEP staff has drafted a blue-print for how IDS can measure the quality of indigent defense services through the development of statistical indicators entitled, SEP System Performance Measures Guide. The Guide defines the goals and objectives of a high quality indigent defense program and identifies the indicators that will measure system performance for each objective. SEP staff hopes it will serve as a model for indigent defense services across the nation. SEP's next step is to have key in-state and national reviewers review The Guide, which will help SEP further refine the evaluation tool.

The Challenge in Evaluating Indigent Defense: Innovation in the Art and Practice of Indigent Defense Services: In December 2008, IDS completed an extensive literature review of:

New and innovative developments in criminal justice research
Innovations in strategies or approaches to the practice of indigent defense
Methods to evaluate indigent defense services
Model projects in agencies and organizations that were putting theory into practice successfully.

The report enabled SEP staff to define the goals and objectives of a high quality successful indigent defense system. The report includes a detailed bibliography of sources, which you may also browse by clicking on the Resources link here or under the SEP's website menu.
The Challenge in Evaluating Indigent Defense: Results from IDS Round Table Discussions: Over an eight month period in 2006, IDS hosted a series of 10 round table discussions across the state asking indigent defense clients, defense attorneys, and our criminal justice partners including judges, law enforcement, prosecutors, corrections officers, and community organizations to share their experiences with and perspectives on indigent defense in North Carolina. 189 persons participated in the round table discussions. To supplement the discussions, IDS also conducted a number of surveys, including surveys of inmates at minimum correctional facilities, public defenders, private appointed counsel, and private investigators. This report recounts what participants said and presents results from the various surveys.
The Challenge in Evaluating Indigent Defense: March 2005 Conference Report: IDS received a small grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and hosted a one day national forum where indigent defense service practitioners and criminal justice social scientists discussed approaches and strategies for evaluating indigent defense. In addition, SEP staff introduced North Carolina's emerging strategy for evaluating indigent defense and collected feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Indigent Defense Research Listserv: SEP staff created an Indigent Defense Research Listserv, which was a product of the March 2005 conference. IDS hopes the listserv will serve as a national forum where practitioners, researchers, and criminal justice social scientists can share ideas, materials, and updates on research projects, ask research questions, and build a community of individuals committed to improving indigent defense through research. IDS will also use the listserv to share our progress with the Systems Evaluation Project. If you would like to join the listserv, please e-mail Daryl Atkinson at Daryl.V.Atkinson@nccourts.org.