{"id":630,"date":"2020-03-04T21:52:28","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T21:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/?page_id=630"},"modified":"2022-09-13T13:36:09","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T13:36:09","slug":"our-work-highlights","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/our-work-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Added by Post\/Page specific custom CSS plugin, thank you for using! -->\r\n<style>h1{\r\npadding-top: 50px;\r\nwidth:100%;\r\nfont-weight: 400;\r\ncolor: #303133;\r\nfont-size: 20pt !important;\r\n}\r\n\r\nh2{\r\npadding-top: 20px;\r\nFont-weight: 400;\r\ncolor: #303133;\r\nfont-size: 14pt !important;\r\ntext-decoration: underline;\r\n}<\/style>\r\n<p><em>Our clients are attorneys who want to put forth compelling legal arguments and make changes to the law but lack evidentiary support \u2013 that is where LDDC comes in.\u00a0 Below is a sampling of work product created by student attorneys that has been used by our clients as statistical and analytical support for their positions.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<h1>2022<\/h1>\n<h2>The Impact of Digital Evidence on Baltimore City Office of the Public Defender Felony Unity Caseloads<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2022\/09\/OPD_LDDC_Pilot_Study_FINAL.pdf\">OPD_LDDC_Pilot_Study_FINAL<\/a> \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2355 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2022\/09\/opd_report_graphic-247x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"107\" height=\"131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2022\/09\/opd_report_graphic-247x300.png 247w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2022\/09\/opd_report_graphic-843x1024.png 843w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2022\/09\/opd_report_graphic-768x933.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2022\/09\/opd_report_graphic-1264x1536.png 1264w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2022\/09\/opd_report_graphic.png 1534w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 107px) 100vw, 107px\" \/>This report presents the results of an eight-week time caseload study that examines the qualitative and quantitative impact of the proliferation of digital evidence such as body-worn camera footage, security camera footage, and smart phone data on typical OPD felony-unit attorneys. Based on its original data analysis, the report shows that 1) the amount of time spent by attorneys reviewing discovery (as the result of digital evidence including BWC footage) has increased substantially since the 2005 statewide OPD study conducted on attorney workloads; and 2) there is insufficient time available for attorneys to fully review the total scope of digital discovery.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1>2021<\/h1>\n<h2>Racial Disparity in the Charles County Justice System 2016 &#8211; 2020<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/Charles-County-Infographic_Final-Deliverable.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumbnail alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/info_CCo_thumb.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"101\" height=\"128\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/Charles_County_Appendix_Final_Deliverable.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumbnail alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/app_CCo_thumb.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"101\" height=\"130\" \/><\/a>At the request of Southern Marylanders for Racial Equity (SoMD 4 Racial Equity), the Legal Data and Design Clinic undertook a study comparing criminal charges between races in District and Circuit court in Charles County. The LDDC&#8217;s analysis is summarized in the <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/Charles-County-Infographic_Final-Deliverable.pdf\">Infographic<\/a> on this site and explored in detail in the posted <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/Charles_County_Appendix_Final_Deliverable_Clean.pdf\">Appendix<\/a>. The LDDC discovered that there is significant inequality between the charges faced by Black and white residents of Charles County.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Study Findings on Domestic Violence Pretrial Incarcerations<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: left;\" data-wp-editing=\"1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/08\/DV_Incarcerations_Report_final.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-1902\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-04-29-at-1.52.56-PM-232x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"126\" height=\"163\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/08\/DV_Infographic_FINALletter-size-2021-08-17.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1901\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/04\/Screen-Shot-2021-04-29-at-1.52.28-PM-232x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"126\" height=\"163\" \/><\/a>In February 2021, The Office of the Public Defender (OPD) approached the UB Legal Data and Design Clinic (LDDC) to investigate their anecdotal suspicion that 70-80% of defendants charged with domestic violence (DV)<span class=\"s1\">\u00a0<\/span>related offenses in Baltimore City receive Nolle Prosequi (NP) dispositions. Since many defendants whose cases are ultimately dismissed are held without bail pretrial, the concern was that DV defendants suffer excessive and unnecessary pretrial incarceration. The LDDC agreed to investigate OPD\u2019s concerns by conducting an empirical study of Baltimore City\u2019s main DV docket. This report and the accompanying infographic presents the LDDC&#8217;s findings.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Testimony in Support of House Bill 580<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/Charles_County_Appendix_Final_Deliverable.pdf\">Charles_County_Appendix_Final_Deliverable<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/05\/Cco_Infographic_Final-Deliverable.pdf\">Cco_Infographic_Final Deliverable<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/02\/LDDC_Child_Support_Memo_HB580_Tesitmony_final.pdf\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-650\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-650 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2021\/02\/HB580.png\" alt=\"Maryland House Judiciary Written Testimony in support of House Bill 580 - Automatic driver's license suspension for failure to child support arrearages.\" width=\"126\" height=\"163\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Legal Data &amp; Design Clinic pursues evidence-based decision-making. We believe it is vital to show both (1) the sources of our data and (2) how our data analysis supports our advocacy. To that end, this is our written testimony submitted to the House Judiciary Committee in support of HB580. Coming off the success of House Bill 280, we picked up where we left off in the battle against the criminalization of poverty. It contains a summary of our findings, which reveal that automatic license suspensions for failure to pay child support arrearages disproportionately affect African Americans and poorer, rural areas.<\/p>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1>2020<\/h1>\n<h2>Testimony in Support of House Bill 280<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/02\/LDDC_HB280_FINAL.pdf\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-650\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-650 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Testimony-HB280-232x300.png\" alt=\"Maryland House Judiciary Written Testimony in support of House Bill 280 - Automatic driver's license suspension for failure to pay fines and fees.\" width=\"122\" height=\"158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Testimony-HB280-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Testimony-HB280-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Testimony-HB280-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Testimony-HB280.png 1114w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 122px) 100vw, 122px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Legal Data &amp; Design Clinic pursues evidence-based decision-making. We believe it is vital to show both (1) the sources of our data and (2) how our data analysis supports our advocacy. To that end, this is our written testimony submitted to the House Judiciary Committee in support of HB280. It contains a summary of our findings, which reveal that automatic license suspensions for failure to pay traffic-related debt disproportionately affect African Americans and poorer, rural areas. This testimony also rebuts the position that enacting this bill into law would be a financial burden on the state. Such an argument fails to consider the potential savings in costs and other economic benefits this bill would produce.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">HB280 Infographic &amp; Underlying Data<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/02\/LDDC_HB280_two_pager.pdf\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-649\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-649 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/HB280-2-Pager-232x300.png\" alt=\"One-page infographic for HB280, license suspensions for fines and fees \" width=\"138\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/HB280-2-Pager-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/HB280-2-Pager-768x993.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/HB280-2-Pager-792x1024.png 792w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/HB280-2-Pager.png 930w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 138px) 100vw, 138px\" \/><\/a>Having good data is foundational to any type of analysis. Analyzing data with quality control protocols is essential for producing accurate results. However, our meticulous data wrangling and analysis mean nothing if we could not deliver the information to our intended audience. In the initial stages of a project, LDDC student attorneys prototype a vision for the final work product that is customized to the client&#8217;s needs. When testifying for HB280, LDDC student attorneys provided the following handout to delegates of the House Judiciary Committee. Designed to quickly convey our findings, the handout furthers our advocacy through the use of data visualizations. LDDC interrogates complex datasets and engages in sophisticated computations to arm clients with data-driven arguments.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>For those interested in taking a deep dive into the original data underlying\u00a0the LDDC&#8217;s HB280 testimony and inforraphic, download an Excel Workbook with seven interrelated spreadsheets at this link:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/HB280-Brief-Data-Summary-FINAL.xlsx\">HB280 &#8211; Brief Data Summary &#8211; FINAL<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Name Change Publication Requirements by County in Maryland<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Publication-Costs-and-Reqs.pdf\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-648\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-648 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Publication-Costs-and-Reqs-232x300.png\" alt=\"Publication costs\" width=\"129\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Publication-Costs-and-Reqs-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Publication-Costs-and-Reqs-768x993.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Publication-Costs-and-Reqs-792x1024.png 792w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/03\/Publication-Costs-and-Reqs.png 1100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 129px) 100vw, 129px\" \/><\/a>Changing one\u2019s legal name is often a deeply personal decision.\u00a0 The current law, however, requires one wishing to change his\/her\/their name to publish it in a local print newspaper and the internet for online circulation.\u00a0 This could be particularly troubling for individuals who do not wish to be associated with their former legal identity, namely those in the LGBTQ+ community.\u00a0 In addition, the costs of publication vary greatly among counties, making a change of name potentially more burdensome for lower income individuals in those higher-priced regions.\u00a0 Here is a list of each county\u2019s publication costs and requirements.\u00a0 Note: The Circuit Court where the name change petition is filed allows for publication in \u201cany newspaper of general circulation.\u201d\u00a0 Therefore, this list is not exhaustive but merely indicates the most typical newspaper in each county.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Data Underlying &#8220;The Ongoing Fight Against Oppressive Bail&#8221; Blog<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/BailData.pdf\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-1057\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1057 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-20-at-9.43.04-AM-232x300.png\" alt=\"Data re: Impact of Bail Reform \" width=\"138\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-20-at-9.43.04-AM-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-20-at-9.43.04-AM-768x994.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-20-at-9.43.04-AM-791x1024.png 791w, https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-20-at-9.43.04-AM.png 1184w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 138px) 100vw, 138px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Much of what LDDC does involves advocating for criminal justice reform as well as closely examining the practical significance of changes already enacted.\u00a0 While a new statute or judicial opinion will seem to have a positive effect, the underlying statistical evidence often tells a different story.\u00a0\u00a0Maryland Rule 4-216.1 was intended to remedy the injustice associated with cash bail but in practice, has had unintended deleterious consequences on the criminal justice system. On March 12, 2020, LDDC Student Attorney Jose Zelada published <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/the-ongoing-fight-against-oppressive-bail\/\">a blog post analyzing the impact of the MD Rule 4-216.1<\/a>, which went into effect on July 1, 2017.\u00a0 Here is the raw data supporting the analysis in that blog post:\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1164\/2020\/04\/MD_Bail_Rule_underyling_data.xlsx\">MD_Bail_Rule_underlying_data.xlsx<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our clients are attorneys who want to put forth compelling legal arguments and make changes to the law but lack evidentiary support \u2013 that is where LDDC comes in.\u00a0 Below is a sampling of work product created by student attorneys that has been used by our clients as statistical and analytical support for their positions.\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3272,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/630"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3272"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=630"}],"version-history":[{"count":56,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/630\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":912,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/630\/revisions\/912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/legaldatadesign\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}