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Research article
Albert Wirya
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (Community Legal Aid Institute)
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6970-8555
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background All around the world, the paralegal program prepares members of marginalized communities to face the legal system. Having a common background with their clients and being capable of conducting flexible work, paralegals’ role moves beyond enlarging the beneficiaries of legal aid to addressing intersectional issues around health-related rights. This study assesses the impact on the health-related rights of paralegals recruited by Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (LBHM) which operates in Jakarta, Indonesia. The positive results these paralegals can bring in the specific context can contribute to the development of community-based paralegals elsewhere.
Methods This mixed methods research was carried out in 2016-2018. In 2016, a quantitative survey was administered to LBHM-trained paralegals and a sub-set of paralegals were also interviewed. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, and, for the qualitative data, thematic analysis was conducted.
Results The paralegals make important contributions to health-related rights in four distinct ways. Firstly, most of the paralegals checked their clients’ health in all stages of detention, especially regarding their drug dependency status and checking for signs of torture. Secondly, paralegals help clients to be more aware of their medical status by providing information about available health services. Thirdly, paralegals can ensure that their clients obtain health services by taking medicines directly to the clients or encouraging the law enforcement agencies to refer the clients to health services. Lastly, in drug cases, paralegals help their clients to obtain alternative sentences besides imprisonment.
Conclusions These four contributions verify the positive impacts paralegals, recruited from marginalized communities, can deliver for community members facing criminal justice processes. The shifting role of paralegals from merely an intermediary between clients and lawyers to champions of the health-related rights of their clients can happen as a result of adequate training, support, and networks with other agents in criminal justice system.
Keywords
paralegal, access to justice, right to health, vulnerable communities, legal empowerment
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC International Health and Human Rights.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 17 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 12 Mar, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 11 Mar, 2020
Editor invited
On 11 Mar, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 09 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 27 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 27 Feb, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 26 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Feb, 2020
Version 1
Posted 03 Jan, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 01 Feb, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 17 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 02 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 02 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 18 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 17 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 17 Nov, 2019
First submitted
On 13 Nov, 2019
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PDF Downloads: ...
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Subject Areas
Health Policy
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at BMC International Health and Human Rights.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Albert Wirya
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (Community Legal Aid Institute)
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6970-8555
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC International Health and Human Rights.
No community comments so far
Editorial decision: Accept
On 17 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 12 Mar, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 11 Mar, 2020
Editor invited
On 11 Mar, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 09 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 28 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 27 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 27 Feb, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 26 Feb, 2020
Editor assigned
On 24 Feb, 2020
Editor invited
On 23 Feb, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Feb, 2020
Version 1
Posted 03 Jan, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 01 Feb, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 31 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 17 Jan, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 17 Jan, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 02 Jan, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 02 Jan, 2020
Editor assigned
On 18 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 17 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 17 Nov, 2019
First submitted
On 13 Nov, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Health Policy
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC International Health and Human Rights.
Background All around the world, the paralegal program prepares members of marginalized communities to face the legal system. Having a common background with their clients and being capable of conducting flexible work, paralegals’ role moves beyond enlarging the beneficiaries of legal aid to addressing intersectional issues around health-related rights. This study assesses the impact on the health-related rights of paralegals recruited by Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Masyarakat (LBHM) which operates in Jakarta, Indonesia. The positive results these paralegals can bring in the specific context can contribute to the development of community-based paralegals elsewhere.
Methods This mixed methods research was carried out in 2016-2018. In 2016, a quantitative survey was administered to LBHM-trained paralegals and a sub-set of paralegals were also interviewed. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, and, for the qualitative data, thematic analysis was conducted.
Results The paralegals make important contributions to health-related rights in four distinct ways. Firstly, most of the paralegals checked their clients’ health in all stages of detention, especially regarding their drug dependency status and checking for signs of torture. Secondly, paralegals help clients to be more aware of their medical status by providing information about available health services. Thirdly, paralegals can ensure that their clients obtain health services by taking medicines directly to the clients or encouraging the law enforcement agencies to refer the clients to health services. Lastly, in drug cases, paralegals help their clients to obtain alternative sentences besides imprisonment.
Conclusions These four contributions verify the positive impacts paralegals, recruited from marginalized communities, can deliver for community members facing criminal justice processes. The shifting role of paralegals from merely an intermediary between clients and lawyers to champions of the health-related rights of their clients can happen as a result of adequate training, support, and networks with other agents in criminal justice system.
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