Rehabilitative planning services in a public defender's office

Abstract

Abstract According to the American Bar Association, it is the responsibility of the defense attorney to be familiar with all the sentencing alternatives available to his client and with community and other facilities that may be of assistance in meeting the need,1; of the defendant. A/though this responsibility is one of the most important functions of the defense attorney because of the impact it may kaue on sentencing, few attorneys actually have the time or information required to prepare an alternative sentencing plan, particularly in a Public Defender's Office where attorneys are overburdened with large case loads. In an effort to overcome this problem and to comply with the standards set by the American Bar Association regarding sentencing proceedings, the Shelby County Public Defender's Office in September 1975 established a Rehabilitative Planning Services Unit. The initial results clearly show that a Rehabilitative Planning Services Unit can provide invaluable assistance to a Public Defender's Of...