Maximizing the Federal Investment in Criminal Legal Aid

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Prepared by:
Prairie Research Associates (PRA Inc.)

Presented to:
Legal Aid Directorate
Department of Justice Canada

2014

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Justice Canada.

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© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada,
represented by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, 2014

Table of Contents

• 1.0 Introduction
• 2.0 Approach
  • 2.1 Document review and literature review
  • 2.2 Interviews
  • 2.3 Interpretation of results
• 3.0 Context for study
  • 3.1 Benefits of criminal legal aid
  • 3.2 Current pressures facing legal aid
• 4.0 Current innovations and best practices
  • 4.1 Accessibility
  • 4.2 Effectiveness
  • 4.3 Efficiency
  • 4.4 Accountability
• 5.0 Approaches to change
• 6.0 Federal role
• 7.0 Summary
• References
• Appendix A – Document and literature review template
• Appendix B – Compendium of best practices and innovations for improving efficiency and access to justice in criminal legal aid, 2007-08 to present
• Appendix C – Criminal legal aid in Australia, New Zealand, England/Wales, and Scotland