Free Technical Assistance

Assistance with technology issues is provided by SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. Long a resource only for police and prosecution, it is now open to indigent defense. They also run a special clearinghouse to help jurisdictions integrate the technology systems of all their justice agencies.

The Criminal Courts Technical Assistance Project (CCTAP) will provide support in other areas. NLADA has been a consortium partner in the CCTAP since its founding a few years ago. When a defender technical assistance request comes in it is reviewed against the selection criteria (see below). CCTAP (through NLADA) then matches the request with defender/experts to provide the needed consultation and assistance. Travel and time costs are picked up by CCTAP, and typically run several thousand dollars. CCTAP gives priority to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Results in statewide impact on judicial system operations;
• Promotes prompt and effective handling of cases involving violent or drug offenses;
• Addresses a serious dysfunction in the conduct of the adjudication process with substantial negative implications for the public image of the judicial system or judicial system interagency relations;
• Addresses a problem that significantly affects a BJA grantee agency; and/or
• Presents an emergency situation.

For more information on technology integration from a defender perspective, see NLADA's Defender Guidebook To Technology Integration In Criminal Justice Information Systems. You can also order the full Guidebook with appendices.