This report evaluated the Sargent Shriver pilot projects, which provided representation to individuals involved child custody, guardianship, and housing cases. They find that having legal representation in each of these areas correlates with positive outcomes for the client.
State-Specific
Sequencing Disadvantage: Barriers to Employment Facing Young Black and White Men with Criminal Records
In this article, researchers had teams of black and white men apply for low-wage jobs throughout New York City. Half of the participants were given resumes with criminal records and the other half did not. They find that having a criminal record had a greater negative effect if the participant was black.
Reunification and Case Resolution Improvements in Office of Public Defense (OPD) Parents Representation Program Counties
By: Washington State Office of Public Defense. Published in: February 2010 Link to report Link to PDF This study finds that when parents have legal representation in child welfare proceedings, rates of reunification were higher. Highlights include: They examined “every… Read More ›
Report on the Programs to Assist Self Represented Litigants of the State of Maryland
This report analyzes five programs that assist pro se litigants in Maryland. It finds that the programs are cost effective and efficient at serving self-represented litigants.
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.
Legal Services Assessment for Trafficked Children
Researchers at the Center for the Human Rights of Children conducted a survey with professionals working in and around Cook County, IL who provided services to human trafficking survivors. They find that 85 percent of service providers report access to legal services as “critical” for child trafficking survivors.
The Future of Legal Services in Oregon
In the advent of online access to limited legal services, Oregon examines its civil legal aid system and assembled two task forces — the Legal Innovations Committee and the Regulations Committee — to create recommendations of how the state can incorporate online resources and the provision of limited-legal services into its civil legal aid system.
Economic Return on Investment of Providing Counsel in Philadelphia Eviction Cases for Low-Income Tenants
In this economic return on investment study of providing legal counsel for those in eviction cases, Stout Risius Ross found that establishing a right to counsel would help the city avoid $45.2 million in costs annually, while the total cost to provide representation is $3.5 million. They analyzed docket data to assess the impact representation would have on the outcome of an eviction case. They analyzed the distribution of outcomes, the incremental impact of representation, and a repeat case analysis.
Economic Impact of Civil Legal Aid Services in Maine
The report reviews various outcomes associated with civil legal services, including those related to federal dollars flowing into Maine, non-federal monetary awards obtained, community cost savings, and higher incomes.
Unmarked: Criminal Record Clearing and Employment Outcomes
Researchers at UC Berkeley find that record clearing increases employment. Average employment rates grew in the years after the intervention from roughly 75% to 80%-85%.
Legal Aid Research 