• One lawyer said that the majority of women she has interviewed at the Prison for Women in Kingston said their lawyers did not talk to them about what to expect in court and that they did not understand what happened at court.

• A comment made by another court advocate suggests that the cynicism many people have towards lawyers is increased when their lawyers don't help them understand the case or the court process. He said that people who are accused feel that their lawyers almost prefer them not to understand because the lawyer then has total control of the case. As he put it: "Too often the idea is if you don't understand, it's O.K. Trust me, because I do understand."

Literacy Awareness by Court Officials can Contribute to Crime Prevention and Potentially to Reduced Court Caseloads

Literacy barriers are often a primary factor in criminal activity and when they are present, the rest of the person's needs (socioeconomic, employment, health) are not easy to address. Simply punishing people without helping with these issues makes it difficult for offenders to live free from crime when released.