Abstract
The importance of legal representation to a criminal defendant is widely accepted, but the quality of government-provided
counsels (particularly public defenders) has continuously been questioned. Based on data from Tulsa County DUI and Drug programs
in Oklahoma, the authors tested the impact of legal representation (public defender versus private counsel) on clients’ performance
in program, measured by plea terms and program outcome. Initial bivariate analyses showed disparate effect of legal representation,
as clients represented by private counsels received better plea terms and fared better in program outcome. This effect, however,
disappeared once other variables were controlled. Instead, factors closely related to the clients themselves (e.g., demographic
features and their criminal behaviors) significantly impacted their program performance.
counsels (particularly public defenders) has continuously been questioned. Based on data from Tulsa County DUI and Drug programs
in Oklahoma, the authors tested the impact of legal representation (public defender versus private counsel) on clients’ performance
in program, measured by plea terms and program outcome. Initial bivariate analyses showed disparate effect of legal representation,
as clients represented by private counsels received better plea terms and fared better in program outcome. This effect, however,
disappeared once other variables were controlled. Instead, factors closely related to the clients themselves (e.g., demographic
features and their criminal behaviors) significantly impacted their program performance.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-18
- DOI 10.1007/s12103-011-9144-0
- Authors
- Bin Liang, Department of Sociology, Oklahoma State University–Tulsa, 700 North Greenwood Avenue, Main Hall, 2223, Tulsa, OK 74106, USA
- Michael A. Long, Department of Sociology, Oklahoma State University, 431 Murray Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
- Wendy Brame, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Briar Cliff University, 3303 Rebecca Street, Sioux City, IA 51104, USA
- Journal American Journal of Criminal Justice
- Online ISSN 1936-1351
- Print ISSN 1066-2316