the texas weighted caseload study

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

The 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

Indigent Defense in Texas

• 48th in per-capita spending

• Counties pay over 80% of cost

• Attorneys are not adequately compensated for defense quality

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

Indigent Defense in Texas

• How widespread is the problem?

o Harris County, 2012: Top 10% averaged 632 appointments

32 attorneys received more than 400 cases

One attorney took 952 cases

45% of felony cases were represented by attorneys with caseloads >150 clients

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

Indigent Defense in Texas

A lawyer with an “S” on his

chest for Superman couldn’t

represent these people.

- Professor Norman

Lefstein

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

House Bill 1318

Not 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

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 Counties

o Public Defender Feasibility Study

o Mental Health Public Defender

o Direct Electronic Filing in Criminal Cases

o 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 Timeline

2013 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 Timeline

2013 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

Essential Partners

• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

• State Bar of Texas

• National Authorities

• Experienced Public Defenders

• Texas Defense Attorneys

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

Tasks and Timeline

2013 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 Timeline

2013 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

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 Attorneys

Potential 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 Attorneys

More 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!

Great Incentives…

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

Tasks and Timeline

2013 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

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 Timeline

2013 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

Hypothetical Attorney Time Data

  Data Collected From Attorneys  

Avg. Mins./

Case Type over 12 Weeks

Apptd. F1         6,194    Apptd. F2-3         4,646    Apptd. SJF         3,097    Apptd. Misd.         2,065    Other Cases         5,936    Non-Atty. Time

       3,871    

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

Hypothetical Attorney Time Data

  Data Collected From Attorneys  

Avg. Mins./

Case Type over 12 Weeks

Avg. # Open

Cases in 12 Weeks

Apptd. F1         6,194 14.83    Apptd. F2-3         4,646 11.41    Apptd. SJF         3,097 9.17    Apptd. Misd.         2,065 44.81    Other Cases         5,936 20.16    Non-Atty. Time

       3,871      

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

Hypothetical Attorney Time Data

  Data Collected From AttorneysCase Weight Computation

Avg. Mins./

Case Type over 12 Weeks

Avg. # Open

Cases in 12 Weeks

Avg. Mins./ Case Type

in 12 Weeks(avg. mins./

# cases)

Apptd. F1         6,194 14.83 417.79  Apptd. F2-3         4,646 11.41 407.04  Apptd. SJF         3,097 9.17 337.92  Apptd. Misd.

       2,065 44.81 46.08  

Other Cases         5,936 20.16 294.40  Non-Atty. Time

       3,871      

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

Hypothetical Attorney Time Data

  Data Collected From AttorneysCase Weight Computation

Avg. Mins./

Case Type over 12 Weeks

Avg. # Open

Cases in 12 Weeks

Avg. Mins./ Case Type

in 12 Weeks(avg. mins./

# cases)

% FTE/Case

Apptd. F1         6,194 14.83 417.79 1.62%Apptd. F2-3         4,646 11.41 407.04 1.58%Apptd. SJF         3,097 9.17 337.92 1.31%Apptd. Misd.

       2,065 44.81 46.08 0.18%

Other Cases         5,936 20.16 294.40 1.14%Non-Atty. Time

       3,871      

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

Hypothetical Attorney Time Data

  Data Collected From AttorneysCase Weight Computation

Avg. Time Spent

onClient Comm.

Avg. Time Spent

onCase Prep.

Avg. Time Spent

onCourt Time

Avg. Time Spent

onAdmi

n/ Other

Avg. Mins./

Case Type over 12 Weeks

Avg. # Open

Cases in 12 Weeks

Avg. Mins./ Case Type

in 12 Weeks(avg. mins./

# cases)

% FTE/Case

Apptd. F1 1,858 2,478 1,239 619 6,194 14.83 417.79 1.62%Apptd. F2-3 1,394 1,858 929 465 4,646 11.41 407.04 1.58%Apptd. SJF 929 1,239 619 310 3,097 9.17 337.92 1.31%Apptd. Misd.

619 826 413 2062,065 44.81 46.08 0.18%

Other Cases 1,781 2,374 1,187 594 5,936 20.16 294.40 1.14%Non-Atty. Time

       3,871      

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

Hypothetical Attorney Time Data

    Case Weights Expressed asPERCENT FTEs

# Cases Open for a

Specific Attorney

Case Weight as FTE

% FTE Spent on Cases(# cases x “% FTE” case

weight)

Apptd. F1 38 1.62% 61.51%Apptd. F2 25 1.58% 39.43%Other Cases 15 1.14% 17.11%

WEIGHTED CASELOAD: 

118.05%

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

Tasks and Timeline

2013 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

“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

Tasks and Timeline

2013 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

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 Timeline

2013 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

Final Report

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

Public PolicyResearch Institute