Police and Lawyer Resourcing and its Effects
Limited resourcing for police and lawyers has a broader effect than just in their own departments. A lack of funding makes a barrier between the public servant and the client. While state lawmakers work on their local budgets one of the cutbacks effected is the criminal justice system. These cutbacks have a direct effect on the level of services a client or victim needs and is entitled to. Proper training, lack of resources, and ethics all play a role in how police and lawyers represent the general public during a case. The justice system lacks proper resources for police and lawyers, as a result the lack of resources effect proper follow through for evidence pertaining to a case. Starting with …show more content…
Since local governments determine the strength of police forces, this imbalance is generally beyond the ability of departments to fix unless hiring is allowed.”(NCJRS) There are ways that the departments are looking at how to change what services are priorities and still be able to meet the needs of the public. With change may bring a new influx of problems or increased police requests for assistance because they have been more helpful. With the added work comes a need for more forensics …show more content…
A lack of funding puts a barrier between the defenders and the people needing their services. “It can include time, training, investigative services, independence, and oversight.”(Taylor) One of the biggest comparisons to be made is the large amount of money the prosecution gets versus the smaller amount of money the defense gets. “These limited resources can lead to understaffing, lack of funding to investigators, experts, support staff, interpreters, forensic services, technology and legal research.”(Taylor) According to a report done by the National Association for Law Placement or NALP, “the median entry-level salary for an attorney at a civil legal services organization is $42,000; an attorney with 11-15 years of experience can expect a salary of about $62,000. The median entry-level salary for public defenders is about $45,700; with 11-15 years of experience, the median is about $76,000. The salary scale for local prosecuting attorneys is slightly higher, starting at $50,000 and progressing to $81,500 for those with 11-15 years of experience.” What stands out here is the difference between the private and public sectors or even the defense and prosecution lawyers’. With such a vast area of expertise needed to successfully handle a case it is no wonder that there are important pieces of information being left out. In Louisiana people are being put on a waiting list for a public defender. Some
Limited resourcing for police and lawyers has a broader effect than just in their own departments. A lack of funding makes a barrier between the public servant and the client. While state lawmakers work on their local budgets one of the cutbacks effected is the criminal justice system. These cutbacks have a direct effect on the level of services a client or victim needs and is entitled to. Proper training, lack of resources, and ethics all play a role in how police and lawyers represent the general public during a case. The justice system lacks proper resources for police and lawyers, as a result the lack of resources effect proper follow through for evidence pertaining to a case. Starting with …show more content…
Since local governments determine the strength of police forces, this imbalance is generally beyond the ability of departments to fix unless hiring is allowed.”(NCJRS) There are ways that the departments are looking at how to change what services are priorities and still be able to meet the needs of the public. With change may bring a new influx of problems or increased police requests for assistance because they have been more helpful. With the added work comes a need for more forensics …show more content…
A lack of funding puts a barrier between the defenders and the people needing their services. “It can include time, training, investigative services, independence, and oversight.”(Taylor) One of the biggest comparisons to be made is the large amount of money the prosecution gets versus the smaller amount of money the defense gets. “These limited resources can lead to understaffing, lack of funding to investigators, experts, support staff, interpreters, forensic services, technology and legal research.”(Taylor) According to a report done by the National Association for Law Placement or NALP, “the median entry-level salary for an attorney at a civil legal services organization is $42,000; an attorney with 11-15 years of experience can expect a salary of about $62,000. The median entry-level salary for public defenders is about $45,700; with 11-15 years of experience, the median is about $76,000. The salary scale for local prosecuting attorneys is slightly higher, starting at $50,000 and progressing to $81,500 for those with 11-15 years of experience.” What stands out here is the difference between the private and public sectors or even the defense and prosecution lawyers’. With such a vast area of expertise needed to successfully handle a case it is no wonder that there are important pieces of information being left out. In Louisiana people are being put on a waiting list for a public defender. Some