Early Representation in Richmond, California: An Innovative Partnership

• In Event: Legal Services for the Indigent: "Smart Defense" Strategies for Creating Fairer and More Effective Justice Systems

Abstract

Contra Costa County’s Misdemeanor Early Representation Program (EarlyRep) is designed to provide immediate representation for persons cited for misdemeanor offenses – before their cases are heard in court – in order to avoid arrests and jail time for indigent defendants and prevent the many, associated collateral consequences, such as loss of employment, interruption in medical care, and lack of supervision for their children. EarlyRep operates in the urban city of Richmond, California, as a partnership of the County’s Office of the Public Defender, the Richmond Police Department, and the West Contra Costa Reentry Resource Center, and ensures that, at the time of citation, the officer will provide printed information, in English and Spanish, advising individuals of the availability of immediate legal representation provided by EarlyRep.

This innovative partnership is designed to reduce the number of failures to appear in court (FTAs) and arrest warrants for indigent persons cite-released on misdemeanor offenses and to improve outcomes by providing early case evaluation, case investigation, and legal representation to indigent individuals. The Public Defender is partnering with research partner, the Justice Management Institute, to assist with program design and tracking multiple data points to evaluate program success.

Authors

• Robin Lipetzky, Contra Costa Office of the Public Defender

• Ellen McDonnell, Contra Costa Office of the Public Defender

• Franklin Cruz, Justice Management Institute