Law School Tries to Aid Convicts
By Maury Breecher
The amount of "time" and possibly the question of life or death hangs in the balance of work done by 10 KU Law students for prisoners at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.
Their work is being carried out under the new Prison Legal Assistance Program which began
Last of a Series of Law School Benefits
this semester at KU under the supervision and sponsorship of Law School Professor Paul Wilson.
According to Wilson, this program is serving as a pilot program for the Department of Justice and, if successful, will expand throughout the nation with many other law schools participating in similar programs under Justice Department supervision.
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice is interested in the program from the standpoint of prison administration. Earlier this semester, Eugene Barkin, attorney for the Director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, flew from Washington to meet with Wilson and the students to plan and decide on the program's format.
The Justice Department realizes the wholesome effects such a program has on prisoners, Wilson said. If a prisoner has suffered an injustice it can affect his morale and also serve to reaffirm the common belief of prisoners that "society" doesn't care about them. Thus a prisoner is liable to strike back at society either while still in prison or when he is freed.
On the other hand, Wilson continued, the prisoner's morale can be lifted just by having someone not connected with the prison show that he cares by offering advice.
IF A PRISONER thinks he has
Daily Kansan Monday, January 10, 1966
First there was "Baby Jane." Then "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte"
ANOTHER MEMORABLE DAVIS PORTRAIT!
20TH ANNIVERSARY
Bette Davis as "The Nanny"
WILLIAM DIX and PAMELA FRANKLIN
Hire a Band of Four
Produced from the Screenplay, Directed by
JIMMY MANGSER: SEITH HOLT
A SEVEN ARTS - NUMMER FILM PRODUCTION
Evening Shows
7:00 & 9:00
been wronged but in reality hasn't, the situation is explained to him by the law students. In this way the prisoner will not have the feeling that "society is out to get him." Wilson said it was hoped the prisoner will then try to make the best of the situation and commence good behavior which can possibly lessen his sentence and make him eligible for parole.
The cost of the Legal Assistance Program will be defrayed by a $3800 grant from the Metzenbaum Human Relations Fund of Cleveland.
Students in the program receive one hour of credit this semester in their research requirements. Next semester they will receive three hours of credit.
A common type of case upon which students will be working will be the question of the deposition of detainers on the prisoner. These are claims upon the prisoner made by various states of the Union usually resulting from the prisoner's breaking of a
law which was both a federal and a state offense. Often the state may want to press its claim after the prisoner is released from the federal prison.
THE PROGRAM works this way. Leavenworth prisoners are informed about the program by penitentiary authorities. Interested prisoners fill out applications in which they identify themselves and state their problem. Prof. Wilson, with the help of the prison authorities, checks on the financial condition of these prisoners to confirm that they cannot afford regular legal council.
If they cannot afford council and seem to have potential merit in their cases, then students are assigned to interview them. The students work in teams of two. During the first interview the students get the background of the prisoner's case. Then they conduct a fact investigation consisting of legal research, examinations of the prisoner's records
and letters to other authorities for more information.
After this, the students confer with Prof. Wilson who is a member of the Kansas bar. Wilson said, "The students do the research and reach tentative conclusions but none of their conclusions are communicated until approved by me."
If the student's conclusion is approved or changed by Wilson, a memorandum is drawn up for the prisoner's approval. If the conclusion is that the case has no real merit and could not be won the students then explain to the prisoner the reasons why. Wilson pointed out that this practice spares the courts the waste of time going through a fruitless case. This is an immediate benefit, he said.
IF A CASE does have merit the memorandum from the student team will advise the prisoner to go to court. The prisoner must file his own petition, however. At this point, the court assigns a public defender to the
The attorney then usually allows the student law team to observe the process of the trial and help with further research and investigation.
case. This attorney usually serves without pay and welcomes the preliminary work which the student law team has made available to him.
The student law team learns to develop skeptical attitudes since it is apparent the convict may not always tell the truth. They gain experience in research and investigation. More important to them is the fact they get a glimpse of actual situations which they may encounter in future criminal practice.
Shakespeare-Indian
One Indian newspaper has claimed that William Shakespeare was an Indian. His name was Villivakam Sheshappa Iyer; he was kidnapped by the East India Company and brought to England, the newspaper said.
Did You Get New Clothes For Christmas?
If so, you want to take the best possible care of them. Lawrence Laundry uses Exclusive Sanitone Dry Cleaning to keep them looking fresh and sparkling clean. Even if you did not receive new clothes, Lawrence Laundry keeps your clothes looking bright and new. Give us a try and see what we mean.
launderers and dry cleaners
10th & New Hampshire VI 3-3711
"Specialist In Fabric Care"