The Use of Expert Services by Privately Retained Criminal Defense Attorneys

Abstract:     
This Article explores how constraints operate to impair the use of expert services by privatey retained criminal defense attorneys. The discussion focuses on the use of expert services during the pretrial and sentencing stages of the judicial process. Accordingly, the discussion begins with a hypothetical situation involving a criminal act, and outlines the manner in which a criminal attorney would ideally utilize expert services in preparing a defense for the accused. The Article then examines both the perceived inadequate use of experts by privately retained criminal defense attorneys and the structual factors in our legal system reponsible for this condition, and concludes by suggesting several ways to help eliminate some of the existing impediments to more effective use of expert services.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 30

Accepted Paper Series