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Biography
of Robert L. Spangenberg
Sponsors of research conducted by The Spangenberg Group include the
federal government, state and local governments, the courts, indigent
defense organizations, legal services organizations, the American
Bar Association, state bar associations, private foundations and other
private sources.
Since 1985, members of The Spangenberg Group have achieved recognition
as the country's leading experts on the delivery of indigent defense
services. The Spangenberg Group has undertaken work in numerous indigent
defense areas, including:
- compiling national baseline data
- performing statewide assessments
- analyzing and evaluating local programs
- conducting a variety of specific research studies
Topics studied include:
- caseload standards
- workload measures
- cost containment
- alternative funding
- training needs
- MIS systems
- the use of paralegals and legal assistants
- systemic deficiencies
In tackling a comprehensive study of indigent defense delivery at
the federal, state or local level, The Spangenberg Group advocates
the formation of a task force which includes representatives from
all three branches of government, key officials of all criminal justice
agencies in the jurisdiction, public defenders and private attorneys.
These broadly representative task forces provide oversight for the
research conducted and are usually the best vehicles to assure that
action will be taken on findings and recommendations resulting from
the study. Establishing and working with such task forces has become
an increasingly important specialty of The Spangenberg Group.
The Spangenberg Group is also known for its expertise in conducting
assessments of the unmet civil legal needs of low-income persons.
Statewide assessments have been conducted on general low-income
populations in Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio,
as well as a targeted study of the legal needs of the elderly in
Wisconsin. The Spangenberg Group conducted a first-time study of
the civil legal needs of low- and middle-income individuals in Hawaii.
In addition, The Spangenberg Group completed a study for the American
Bar Association which included a national assessment of unmet civil
legal needs of the poor. This work has helped establish The Spangenberg
Group as the leading expert in the country on conducting civil legal
needs studies.
Another important area of The Spangenberg Group's expertise is in
providing technical assistance to multi-jurisdictional groups working
on issues concerning adequate and balanced funding within the justice
system. In January 1991, The Spangenberg Group began work with the
American Bar Association Special Committee on Funding the Justice
System, which was established in December 1990. Recognizing that
the time has come for a fundamental shift in thinking about the
justice system and its resources, the Committee was formed to examine
ways to ensure balanced and adequate funding among law enforcement,
prosecution, indigent defense, the courts and corrections.
In a number of counties and states, The Spangenberg Group has also
provided litigation support in regard to allegations of resource
and other systemic deficiencies in jurisdictions' indigent defense
systems. Litigation support typically involves gathering and analyzing
budgetary, personnel, caseload and other information; interviewing
individuals familiar with the jurisdiction's indigent defense system;
and observing court proceedings. Using this information, Mr. Spangenberg
has provided testimony on the extent and seriousness of the alleged
systemic deficiencies.
Finally, The Spangenberg Group is known for its work relating to
the representation of indigent defendants charged with capital offenses.
The Spangenberg Group is a primary provider of technical assistance
and research to the federal government, state governments, courts,
bar associations, public defenders and other indigent defense organizations.
This work addresses issues such as:
- Time and cost analysis for trial, direct
appeal and post-conviction representation at the state and federal
level
- The collection of nationwide data on the right to counsel
in capital post-conviction proceedings
- Technical assistance in the design of federally-funded
post-conviction defender organizations in the majority of states
that obtained such federal funds from 1988 through 1996
- Technical assistance in the design of state capital trial
units
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