Report: The Benefits and Costs of Programs to Assist Self-Represented Litigants (California 2009)

This Report was prepared by John Greacen for the Judicial Council of California, center for Families, Children and the Courts. Preliminary research conducted in courts in the San Joaquin Valley in California shows that self help services provided to self-represented litigants produce economic savings for courts and for litigants. The findings should prove helpful to courts seeking information on the costs and benefits of the services they render as they make difficult resource allocation decisions in today’s challenging fiscal climate.

Please also note the supplementary documents that provide details about how the costs were estimated and survey tools.