A survey of public defender programs found that an increasing number of social workers are providing assistance at the time when the offender is awaiting disposition of a case. It was also found that they are in a position to influence the treatment and rehabilitation of the indigent offender. (Author/BW)

The duties of this new branch of paraprofessional workers include legal research of various types, interviews with clients, working out budget needs and resources, routine preparation and processing of legal documents, and reviewing of legal publications to prepare suggested reading lists for the lawyers. (AG)