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Accommodating Negative Client Perceptions: A Process of Neutralization
Author(s) -
Rosecrance John
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.1988.tb01055.x
Subject(s) - pejorative , accommodation , perception , public defender , representation (politics) , criminology , sociology , law , social psychology , criminal justice , psychology , political science , neuroscience , politics
Fieldwork evidence and interview data are used to demonstrate that indigent criminal defendants believe legal representation provided by public defenders is inferior to privately retained counsel. While acknowledging this pejorative image, public defenders tend to trivialize client perceptions. Techniques of neutralization are used to describe the accommodation patterns utilized by public defenders to cope with this negative image. Findings are discussed in relation to these neutralization techniques.