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                            Funding & Awards
 The Effects of Defense Counsel on the Outcomes of Homicide 
and Death Penalty Prosecutions
Award Information
Awardee
              RAND Corporation
Award #
              2009-IJ-CX-0013
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Santa Monica, CA
Congressional District
              33
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2009
Total funding (to date)
              $149,898
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 09 ORE Crime and Justice Research
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $149,898)
This evaluation of the Philadelphia Defender Association (PDA) examines differences in race and quality of criminal defense, the effect of (trial, investigator, and expert fee cap) incentive changes on appointed counsel, and the effect of mandated experience and training since 2004 on homicide and death penalty case outcomes (plea/trial, sentence, time to disposition). A natural experiment results from the 1/5 random assignment of counsel at arraignment since 1993 from local appointed attorneys versus PDA, who receive specialized death penalty training and expert witness funds. Information sources include: Administrative Office of the PA Courts data on cases concluded 1/1990-present (n=1600 local, n=400 PDA); structured interviews with attorneys and other stakeholders using snowball sampling; and case review of 51 capital homicide cases found counsel constitutionally ineffective. Findings have applications for right to counsel, sentencing disparity, and indigent defense systems. CA/NCF



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Measuring the Effect of Defense Counsel on Homicide Case Outcomes
                  Measuring the Effect of Defense Counsel on Homicide Case Outcomes, Executive Summary
                  How Much Difference Does the Lawyer Make? The Effect of Defense Counsel on Murder Case Outcomes

  
Date Created: September 10, 2009
    
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