Case types – LSC

Reentry: The Tie That Binds Civil Legal Aid Attorneys and Public Defenders

Works examines the data from major reentry initiatives to determine whether the legal needs of formerly incarcerated individuals are being met. The data suggest that reentry programs do not adequately address the legal needs of their clients. This article then examines the potential for partnership between reentry programs and existing legal service providers in an effort to close the legal services gap in reentry.

Process and Impact Evaluation of a Legal Assistance and Health Care Community Partnership

Researchers conducted a cost-benefit analysis with a secondary data from a legal aid program that helped with health-related issues, such as medication coverage, Social Security benefits, and Medicaid reimbursement. The researchers found that 25.5 percent of the closed cases resulted in a win for the client; 42.7 percent of the closed cases were referred to the appropriate legal aid entity; and 18.7 percent were lost to follow up or closed due to a changing need. Only 13.4 percent of cases were lost for the client.

Older African American Women and Barriers to Reporting Domestic Violence to Law Enforcement in the Rural Deep South

The main reasons for not going to law enforcement when experiencing abuse was fear of being stigmatized by their church, family, and community. The researchers reviewed data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System and conducted fieldwork in four rural counties in the Black Belt of Alabama. They find that when women feel more independent, which can be furthered by legal services such as assisting with benefits and outreach, they were more likely to come forward to seek out law enforcement.

Needs and Issues of Latino and Native American Nonparental Relative Caregivers: Strengths and Challenges within a Cultural Context

This study interviewed Latino and Native American grandparents about their social and legal needs. In interviews conducted with Native American caregivers, the article noted “legal custodial issues as critical” and “reported legal aid as a significant need” (p. 364). For those interviewed, Native American grandparents reported a median income of $1,300.