We are working with the North Carolina Indigent Defense Services as well as North Carolina Central University to examine how to increase public defense workforces in that state. This will include surveying attorneys and law students about attitudes, interests, and perceived barriers to careers in public defense
RTI is designing a conducting a formative study examining public defense legal desert and workforce challenges in North Carolina. During this period, RTI conducted multiple interviews with North Carolina court stakeholders including NC State Bar, NC Indigent Defense Services, and local/regional public defender offices to plan remaining data collection activities. RTI also met with local law school to understand public defense-related curriculum and training.
RTI conducted several in-person court observations to assess representation in communities designated as “legal deserts”.
RTI conducted multiple interviews with current defense attorneys to understand current practices and challenges with working in public defense and in legal deserts.
RTI will complete remaining data collection interviews and initial data reports in Q3 and Q4.
RTI intends to outreach and hold remaining interviews and informational conversations with law schools and students in Q3 and Q4.
July-Dec. 2024: We are working with the North Carolina Indigent Defense Services as well as several NC area law schools to examine how to increase public defense workforces in that state. Project surveying and interviews are on-going. This reporting period, RTI conducted structure interviews with students and attorneys, identifying issues and system strengths. A report is expected in spring 2025. Updates on this project were presented at the American Society of Criminology Conference in November.
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