Research summaryLegal representation is a critical right in the criminal legal process, yet it is unclear when representation is guaranteed. Further, many individuals find obtaining legal representation difficult and expensive. The current study is an evaluation of an initial appearance program implemented in St. Louis County, Missouri. This mixed‐methods study focuses on understanding if and how providing counsel at initial appearance affects the bond amount, release type, and length of pretrial detention. Data from official court records and interviews with project staff and stakeholders suggest that early, free representation at arraignment can facilitate release on recognizance and lowered bail amounts. Results from a series of interaction models suggest that this type of programming may be able to help reduce some racial disparities. Our thematic analysis indicates that courtroom stakeholders see value in the program for the defendants, the criminal process, and the courtroom workgroup dynamics during pretrial stages.Policy implicationsThe results reflect the need for early representation in the legal process. Representation can potentially reduce some of the racial and ethnic disparities in case processing, which are relatively stark and can lead to downstream effects like a greater likelihood of recidivism and conviction. Currently, most funding for public defenders is inequitable to that of the prosecutor's office, and this work speaks to the necessity of providing representation that begins with the initial appearance and continues throughout the life of the case. This work also highlights how outside funding can be used to support more equitable and fair case processing in the criminal legal system.

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获得咨询的权利？圣路易斯县初始外观计划的混合方法评估

研究提要 法律代理权是刑事诉讼过程中的一项重要权利，但代理权何时得到保障尚不明确。此外，许多人发现获得法律代表既困难又昂贵。当前的研究是对密苏里州圣路易斯县实施的初始外观计划的评估。这项混合方法研究的重点是了解初次出庭时提供律师是否以及如何影响保释金额、释放类型和审前拘留时间。来自官方法庭记录以及对项目工作人员和利益相关者的采访的数据表明，提早、自由地在提审时出庭可以促进担保释放并降低保释金额。一系列交互模型的结果表明，这种类型的编程可能有助于减少一些种族差异。我们的主题分析表明，法庭利益相关者看到了该计划对被告、刑事诉讼程序以及审前阶段法庭工作组动态的价值。政策影响结果反映了在法律程序中尽早代表的必要性。代理可以潜在地减少案件处理中的一些种族和民族差异，这些差异相对明显，并可能导致下游影响，例如累犯和定罪的可能性更大。目前，公设辩护人的大部分资金与检察官办公室的资金不公平，这项工作说明了提供代理的必要性，这种代理从最初的出庭开始一直持续到案件的整个过程。这项工作还强调了如何利用外部资金来支持刑事法律系统中更加公平和公正的案件处理。