What share of federal defendants have legal representation throughout their case?
The percentage of federal criminal defendants represented by counsel (private or public defender) at each stage of proceedings. Also tracks the ratio of public defender to private representation, and case outcomes by representation type.
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel in federal criminal proceedings. Gaps in representation — particularly at bail hearings, plea negotiations, and sentencing — can result in worse outcomes for defendants. Public defender caseloads and resource levels affect representation quality.
Example Visualization
Donut chart of representation type breakdown. Caseload per public defender attorney by district. Trend line of representation rate. Outcome comparison by representation type.
How long are federal defendants held in custody before their cases are resolved?
How consistently do federal courts apply Sentencing Guidelines across similar cases?