Research has shown the benefits of early access to counsel, specifically counsel at first appearance (sometimes referred to by the acronym CAFA). It provides the opportunity for people who are accused to understand their rights more fully, to be apprised of the investigative and criminal adjudicative processes, and to discuss the possible outcomes of their decisions with a lawyer. Access to counsel affects pretrial release decisions, protects constitutional rights, reduces incarceration before trial, and helps ensure that any conditions of release are, in accordance with the law, the least restrictive necessary.
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