Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Texas Weighted Caseload Study

Developing Evidence-BasedCaseload Guidelines for Effective Court-Appointed Representation

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

  

Chair: The Honorable Sharon Keller, Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

Vice Chair: The Honorable Olen Underwood

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS:

Honorable Sharon Keller Austin, Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

Honorable W. Jefferson Austin, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Texas

Honorable Roberto Alonzo Dallas, State Representative

Honorable Abel Herrero Robstown, State Representative

Honorable Sherry Radack Houston, Chief Justice, First Court of Appeals

Honorable Linda Rodriguez San Marcos, Hays County Court-at-Law #2

Honorable Royce West Dallas, State Senator

Honorable John Whitmire Houston, State Senator

MEMBERS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR:

Honorable Jon Burrows Temple, Bell County Judge

Mr. Don Hase Arlington, Attorney, Ball & Hase

Mr. Anthony Odiorne Burnet, Asst. Public Defender, RPDO Capital Cases

Honorable Olen Underwood Conroe, Presiding Judge, 2nd AJR of Texas

Honorable B. Glen Whitley Hurst, Tarrant County Judge

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

The mission of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission is to provide financial and technical support to counties to develop and maintain quality, cost-effective indigent defense systems that meet the needs of local communities and the requirements of the Constitution and state law.

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

House Bill 1318Not later than January 1, 2012, the Texas Indigent Defense Commission shall conduct and

publish a study for the purpose of determining guidelines for establishing a maximum

allowable caseload for a criminal defense attorney that… allows the attorney to give each

indigent defendant the time and effort necessary to ensure effective representation.

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Today’s Agenda

1. Why Understanding Caseloads Matters

2. Consider Lessons Learned Elsewhere

3. Review Texas Framework & Strategy

4. Identify Key Factors for Texas Success

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

History of Time Tracking

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Case Log Sheet

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Case Closing Sheet

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

2008 defenderData

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

defenderData Time Entry Screen

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Benefits of Tracking Attorney Time

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Texas Weighted Caseload Study

Developing Evidence-BasedCaseload Guidelines for Effective Court-Appointed Representation

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Public Policy Research InstituteTexas A&M University

• Established by the Legislature in 1984

• Land grant philosophy -- Portal for policymakers to access university expertise

• Original data collection; Survey research; Large database analysis; Qualitative methods

• 30-40 projects/year; 15 state agency partners

• Criminal justice, Education, Public health, Social services, Substance abuse

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

o Impacts of the FDA on Texas Countieso Public Defender Feasibility Studyo Mental Health Public Defendero Direct Electronic Filing in Criminal Caseso Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases o Texas Weighted Caseload Study

Public PolicyResearch Institute

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

TIDC Websites

• Public Indigent Defense Data

• County Reporting Website

• Innocence Project Reporting Website

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Essential Partners• Texas Criminal Defense

Lawyers Association• State Bar of Texas• National Authorities • Public Defenders• Criminal Defense

Attorneys

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

http://texaswcl.tamu.edu

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

Largest Counties in eachAdministrative Judicial Region

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

Largest Counties in eachAdministrative Judicial Region

Strategy:Local TCDLA/ Criminal Defense Bar Associations

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

All Trial-Level Public Defender Offices

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

Strategy:Direct Appeal to Chiefs

All Trial-Level Public Defender Offices

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

39 Counties with Population > 100,000

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

39 Counties with Population > 100,000

Strategy:Telephone Recruitment

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

o Why telephone recruitment? Balanced attorney enrollment

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit AttorneysPotential Sampling Frame

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

o Why telephone recruitment? Diverse counties Do indigent defense policies impact

attorney time and case quality?

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

o Why telephone recruitment? Assertive outreach and marketing Increased sample size

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit AttorneysMore participating attorneys

Larger sample of cases More informative results re: effects of…

o Attorney Characteristics

o (e.g., experience or special qualifications) o Client Characteristics

o (e.g., juvenile, criminal history, mental health concerns)

o Case Factors o (e.g., client in custody, probation concerns,

specialty court)o Defense Tactics

o (e.g., use of experts, use of investigators)

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Recruit Attorneys

+ Preliminary Approval for CLEs!

Incentives…

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

• Webinar training

• Custom defenderData software by Justice Works

• Attorneys keep time for 12 weeks

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Collect Attorney Time Data

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

“Sufficiency of Time” Survey

• Do attorneys feel they have sufficient time for essential activities and functions?

• Where is practice acceptable?

• Where is more time needed?

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

“Sufficiency of Time” Survey

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Delphi Process

• Problems that cannot be precisely measured

• Collective expert judgments

• Questionnaires + Opinion Feedback

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Tasks and Timeline2013 2014

9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Task 1: Advisory Panel Planning

Task 2: Attorney Time Data Collection Recruit Attorneys

Collect Attorney Time Data

Analyze Attorney Time Data

Task 3: Sufficiency of Time Survey

Task 4: Adjust Case Weights thru Delphi Process

Task 5: Prepare Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Final Report

Public Policy Research Institute Phone: (979) 845-8800 http://ppri.tamu.edu

Public PolicyResearch Institute