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A Public Defender Efficacy Study | 18 comments (18 topical)

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Public defenders with overwhelming caseloads (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by scribe on Mon Jan 08, 2007 at 03:38:25 PM EST
are doing the best they can.

And, I don't trust things which might skew the nice, round numbers the survey came up with, like:
(a) counting probation as a "zero" (the same as an acquittal), and
(b) counting a life sentence as 110 years.

Under that calculating basis, and even in a sample of 5,000 or so cases, a five life sentences for indigent defendants will outweigh half a thousand drug convictions with five-years' probation.

The math?

5 life sentences rep'd by PDs @ 110 years incarceration each = 550 years
500 five-year probation rep'd by private attorneys @ zero years incarceration each = zero years

No, this is a hit job on PDs - using junk science - masquerading as something judicially approved.  The more I think about it, the more I opine this judge should be turned in to the ethics authorities for lending the dignity of his office to a scam.

[ Parent ]

Thanks scribe (none / 0) (#11)
by Edger on Mon Jan 08, 2007 at 03:46:25 PM EST
didn't smell right about Hoffman's statement, which is why I phrased that possible interpretation as a question - and I hope other people who read it won't interpret it that way, but I'm afraid that many might...

[ Parent ]
correction (none / 0) (#12)
by Edger on Mon Jan 08, 2007 at 03:47:08 PM EST
something didn't smell right

[ Parent ]

A Public Defender Efficacy Study | 18 comments (18 topical)

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