The Role of Support Staff & Specialized Professionals (SSSPs) in Public Defense Work

• In Event: Data in Indigent Defense: Support Staff and Holistic Defense

Abstract

Principle 9 of the 2023 ABA 10 Principles, which covers essential components of effective representation, states that “Public Defense Providers should have the assistance of investigators, social workers, mitigation specialists, experts, and other specialized professionals necessary to meet public defense needs.” An increasing number of criminal defense attorneys are starting to rely more heavily on these such professionals, but understanding the extent and implications of their involvement has not really been studied. To that end, this paper examines the role of Support Staff and Specialized Professionals (SSSPs) in defense work in Pinal County, AZ. Using case-level data of SSSP use by public defenders and assigned counsel attorneys, our study examines the role that SSSPs play in defense work, the role of SSSPs in case outcomes, requests and allocations of SSSPs, and a cost-analysis of using SSSPs. Implications for policy and practice will be discussed.

Authors

• Reveka Shteynberg, California State University, San Bernardino

• Shuryo Fujita, California State University, San Bernardino

• Paul Lovelis, Pinal County Public Defense Services