The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,000 researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,000 researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.
Our affiliated professors are based at over 120 universities and conduct randomized evaluations around the world to design, evaluate, and improve programs and policies aimed at reducing poverty. They set their own research agendas, raise funds to support their evaluations, and work with J-PAL staff on research, policy outreach, and training.
Our research, policy, and training work is fundamentally better when it is informed by a broad range of perspectives.
The California Policy Lab at UC Berkeley is conducting an evaluation of the Santa Clara Public Defender’s Office Pre-Arraignment Representation and Review (PARR) Project, which provides early legal representation to low-income felony defendants. Normally, public defenders first meet clients at arraignment. In fall 2019, PARR began providing pre-arraignment representation to a randomly selected subset of felony defendants in custody at the Santa Clara County Jail after arrest. This study estimates the impact of early representation services on release at arraignment and case outcomes for felony defendants. The primary hypothesis is that clients who receive early representation will be released from custody more quickly than those who obtain legal representation starting at arraignment. Secondary hypotheses are that early representation will contribute to better case outcomes, including lower rates of charge filings, higher rates of charge reductions, and lower conviction rates.