Patient or Client: The Experience of Defendants with Mental Health Disorders and Their Defense Attorneys

• In Event: NIJ's Research on Indigent Defense

Abstract

There is an extensive body of literature describing elevated rates of mental illness amongst people in the justice system. However, there is a relative lack of research on the experiences of people with mental health disorders in the court system and, specifically, their relationship with defense attorneys. In 2013, the Vera Institute of Justice and Policy Research Associates embarked on a study of public defenders and their clients with mental health disorders. With support from the National Institute of Justice, researchers tracked 200 cases in the Bronx and Monroe County, New York, conducting interviews with defendants and their attorneys at two time points to document the experiences of both parties at the beginning and end of criminal cases. The research was designed to develop recommendations for improving the quality and accessibility of legal representation. This presentation will summarize results from the study, including findings on the needs and priorities of defendants with mental health disorders, communication between attorneys and their clients, and practical barriers to providing legal representation for this for this high-need population.

Author

• James Parsons, Vera Institute of Justice