The study's objectives were to determine how many migratory farm workers were charged with criminal offenses, who they were, and how they were treated in lay courts in Orleans and Steuben Counties (New York) in 1968 and 1969. Lacking comparative data from other jurisdictions, a comparison between migrants and a random sampling of residents in these same courts was drawn. Data were obtained on the: total number of migratory farm workers in these courts, types and dispositions of charges, number of migratory farm workers represented by counsel, relative success of public defenders representing these workers compared with retained counsel for resident defendants, and possible causes of crime by migratory workers. Data were obtained from: criminal dockets in 18 town and village justice courts and 2 county courts, statistical reports of the 2 types of public defender offices, records of hearings by governmental and quasi-governmental agencies, interviews, and observations. Some findings were: (1) the total number of migratory farm workers charged with criminal offenses in these counties was insignificant; (2) the "typical migrant defendant" was male, 37 years old, black, arrested on charges of having committed minor offenses and convicted almost 90 percent of the time; and (3) the resident defendant was male, white, about 13 years younger, more likely to be charged with misdemeanors, and was about 14 percent less likely to be convicted. (Author/NQ)