SAMPLE INVESTIGATION PLAN

NOTE: This sample is a rough guide for the defense team's initial investigation plan. Because each case is different, counsel should adopt this sample investigation plan to the unique facts and circumstances of her client's case and life history.

I.	INVESTIGATE SOCIAL HISTORY

A.	Interview family members, obtain records releases:

1.	Carolyn Client (mother), 123 Maple Street, Maycomb, AL 54321, (334) 555-1212

2.	Caitlyn Client (sister), same as mother

3.	Butch Client (father), 117 Pelzer Ave., Diden, AL 36000, (205) 555-
1212

4.	Butch Client, Jr. (brother), same as father

5.	Al Client (paternal grandfather) - deceased

6.	Sally Client (paternal grandmother), 336 Charleston Blvd., Graden, AL 36000 (no phone)

7.	Linda John (paternal aunt), 876 Duval St., Graden, AL 36000, (205) 444-1212

8.	Bates Edwards (cousin), same as paternal aunt

9.	Veralynn Heutess (maternal grandmother) - deceased

10.	Glen Heutess (maternal grandfather), 456 First Ave., Callaway, AL 36111, (123) 555-1212

11.	Ashlyn Heutess (maternal aunt), 999 Honeysuckle Ln., Meadow, AL 35200, (205) 555-3434

12.	Robyn Heutess (maternal aunt), 4171 Fairgood Ave., Callaway, AL 36111, (123) 444-1212

13.	Rozalyn and Ernest Ferguson (maternal aunt and uncle), 1090 Old County Hwy 29, Pineridge, TN 37000, (456) 555-1212

14.	Mark Ferguson (cousin), 5675 Governors Dr., Pineridge, TN 37000, (456) 555-3434

15.	Michael and Patricia Client (paternal great-grandparents), Diden, AL - deceased

16.	John and Lyn Breeden (Sally Client's mother's parents), Graden, AL - John deceased, Lyn in Shady Grove nursing home)

17.	Preson and Headley Heutess (maternal great-grandparents), Maycomb, AL - deceased

B.	Obtain school files for Client family members:

1.	Joe Client (Maycomb Elem., Maycomb Middle Sch., Fallstaff High School, Maycomb, AL)

2.	Parents

3.	Siblings

4.	Aunts/Uncles

5.	Grandparents Great-grandparents

C.	Locate and interview school personnel (teachers/coaches) who knew Joe:

1.	Coach Roy Evans (basketball), retired

2.	Coach John Rawling (football), now at Evergreen College

3.	Felicia Rowe (vice-principal of Fallstaff H.S.)

4.	Jesse Adair (7th grade homeroom teacher at Maycomb Middle Sch.)

D.	Locate and interview Joe's friends, neighbors, associates:

1.	Britnee Rhonden (friend), 1760 Platt Curve, Cillie, AL

2.	Kim Halifax (neighbor), 129 Main Street, Maycomb, AL 54321, (205) 666-1212

3.	Rev. Terry Jones (pastor), Holy Rock Methodist, Maycomb, AL 54321

E.	Obtain records from Joe's employers; interview former supervisors and co-
workers:

1.	Bamberg Job Corps Center, 19 Job Corps Ave., Bamberg, SC 29000 (05/93 - 11/94)

2.	Pier One Outlet, Maycomb, AL 54321 (2/95 - 9/98)

3.	Sweetwater Pecans and Gifts, Lucasdale, AL 38000 (1/99 - 2/03)

4.	Sunday Dinner Food Service, Blanton, AL 47000 (5/03 - 6/04)

F.	Obtain all hospital, medical and mental health records for Client/Huetess families. Make sure that each department (billing, hospitalization, pharmacy, psychiatric, etc.) receives requests and authorizations from:

1.	Joe Client

2.	Parents

3.	Siblings

4.	Aunts/Uncles

5.	Grandparents

6.	Great-grandparents

G.	Obtain Maycomb County AFDC/social services/child-in-need/food stamps/medicaid records for Client family.

H.	Obtain all juvenile court files for Joe Client.

I.	Document circumstances surrounding deaths of Joe's family members, also look up online - Social Security Death Index advanced search:

1.	Maternal grandmother (found dead in barn in 60's, cause of death undetermined)

2.	Patrick Taylor (uncle, died age 7 mos.)

3.	Paternal grandfather (possible cirrhosis?)

J.	Document Joe's drug and alcohol abuse:

1.	From his perspective

2.	Order records from rehab center

3.	From others' perspectives (also interview AA sponsor)

4.	Abuse by others in his family

K.	Draft life chronology and social history for Client family.

L.	Research social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc.) for Client family.

M.	Interview/consult experts — consider social worker, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, psychologist with substance abuse speciality.

II.	INVESTIGATE ALLEGED CRIME AND PROSECUTION

A.	Review all court files from previous cases, retrieve files, and interview former attorneys:

1.	Maycomb County - Connie Counsel, 123 Mason Rd., Maycomb, AL 54321

2.	Bickley County - Wesley Attorney, 2441 Dawson Rd., Taylor, SC 29000

B.	Obtain original case files from prior defense investigators/experts.

C.	Review Westlaw/LexisNexis, court cases, and media for information on:

1.	Maycomb County DNA testing lab

2.	County coroner

3.	Other forensic experts in the case

D.	Obtain all newspaper stories regarding witnesses and crime; selected media search for relevant material on state agencies/witnesses:

1.	Maycomb News

2.	Maycomb Evening Post

3.	Clarion Call talk radio show

4.	WFXX-20

E.	Federal and state court searches on following people:

1.	Joe Client

2.	Family members

3.	Rachelle Radcliffe (defense witness)

4.	Issac Informant (state witness)

5.	Marta Singh (eyewitness)

6.	Odessa Rex (Callaway detective)

7.	Fredrick Overstreet (state fact witness)

8.	Henry Lincoln (Callaway PD)

9.	Mary Bishop (DFS/witness)

10.	Casey Denton (DFS/witness)

11.	Don Hill (district attorney – formerly in private practice)

F.	Locate, interview, and investigate crime witnesses:

1.	Marta Singh (eyewitness)

2.	Fredrick Overstreet (state fact witness)

G.	Investigate circumstances surrounding Joe's arrest:

1.	Obtain police records

2.	Joe Client's statement (any indication of other statements?)

3.	Lawyer representing him at arraignment

H.	Investigate juvenile offenses:

1.	Obtain records

2.	Interview attorneys involved

3.	Talk to witnesses

4.	Interview juvenile case worker/probation officer

5.	Talk to people who supervised Joe's community service

I.	Determine who were the other suspects and why:

1.	Police files

2.	Neighborhood information?

3.	Newspapers/media

J.	Identify police personnel connected with investigating the case:

1.	Det. Odessa Rex

2.	Off. Harry Lincoln

K.	Determine who, if anyone, Joe spoke with about the case.

L.	Draft and send Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for federal government records:

1.	Joe Client (client)

2.	Carolyn Client (mother)

3.	Butch Client (father)

4.	Others?

M.	Investigate charging and prosecution of capital cases in Maycomb County:

1.	Check Westlaw/LexisNexis/other attorneys for challenges to capital prosecution patterns in Maycomb County.

2.	How many cases (and with what facts) have been charged as capital post-Beck v. Alabama?

3.	How many (and with what facts) have gone to trial?