o To survey defense counsel to assess current attitudes and practices and to determine effective ways to encourage use of experts, investigators, and other support personnel.
o To examine relevant data relating to the use of investigators and experts by assigned counsel in both felony and misdemeanor cases.
o To determine whether investigators and experts are being properly used in public defender offices and managed assigned counsel programs.
o To determine the best ways to improve the use of investigators and experts such as through the creation of performance standards, CLE requirements, rulemaking, data collection and analysis, enhanced training, mentorship, the creation and funding of pilot projects other initiatives.
o Training for criminal defense attorneys (including both institutional defenders and the court appointed bar) on the uses and benefits of experts, investigators, and other support personnel.
Update (July-December 2021): Hosted monthly meetings, developed and distributed survey of investigators (100 responses collected), developed a survey to be distributed to the defender community across the state of Texas.
Update (January -June 2022): Hosted monthly meetings, conducted qualitative and quantitative surveys of defense investigators, attorneys and judges, and issued a preliminary report.
Update (July -December 2022: Sept. 6 to 9: Eldon Whitworth (Subject Matter Expert/member of TIDC Project Working Group) and Suzanne Strong (RTI) presented on our preliminary report and recommendations at the National Defense Investigator Association’s Regional Meeting in Austin, Texas. Abridged version of the report can be found here: https://www.strengthenthesixth.org/content/Texas-Report-2022. Continued to attend monthly meetings. RTI and NACDL will present findings to the board in March 2023.
Update (January - June 2023): March 30, 2023 RTI presented to the TIDC board of directors which included members of the Texas judiciary. Report finalized and submitted to BJA for approval. In-person training is in the planning stages and will likely take place in the fall of 2023. Looking for opportunities to publish the report through various media and platforms aimed at reaching more legal system stakeholders.