Ending Injustice: Solving the Initial Appearance Crisis

Authors

Pamela R. Metzger, Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of LawFollow
Janet C. Hoeffel, Tulane University Law SchoolFollow
Kristin Meeks, Deason Criminal Justice Reform CenterFollow
Sandra Sidi, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center

Files

Description

Most Americans expect that if they are arrested, they will quickly appear before a judge, learn about the charges, and have an attorney assigned to defend them. The reality is vastly different. After arrest, a person can wait in jail for days, weeks, or even months before seeing a judge or meeting an attorney. This report chronicles the resulting initial appearance crisis and highlights its devastating consequences. More importantly, it provides policymakers and advocates with actionable recommendations.

Publication Date

10-2021

Disciplines

Criminal Procedure | Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility | Legislation

Recommended Citation

Pamela R Metzger, Janet C Hoeffel, Kristin Meeks & Sandra Sidi, Ending Injustice: Solving the Initial Appearance Crisis (2021), https://doi.org/10.25172/dc.3

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.