Funding of Public Defenders…
After reading the article on the funding issues related to Public Defender’s Office and realizing that part of the issue is the cut in state funding, I became curious as to what other parts of the State of Ohio were doing to address this issue.
First I visited Franklin County where specific information is provided as to the cost and to their decision to remove funding for perform guardian ad litem services as well as other identified goals designed to help the Public Defender’s Office be more efficient.
There is not much current information out there related to Ohio, though I did discover the Public Defender Stuff Blog that tracks news from the nation on Public Defenders and lists other blogs related to Public Defenders. I did find a pdf report from the Ohio Public Defender Commission but none of the information was specific to our area. Athens, Ohio is experiencing the same issue as reported in the Post, and they are trying to get the State to restore some of their previous funding:
The state public defender’s office is trying to get additional funding from the state legislature – asking that the state pay 31 percent, instead of 25, a change that would be effective Oct. 1 — but the decision won’t be finalized for at least two weeks.
“Even if we do get the extra money, I don’t think it would help in Athens until next year,” Borror said.
When the state public defender’s office was set up in 1976, the state and local offices equally funded each county. In 1983, however, language in the Ohio Revised Code was changed so the state could fund less than, and only up to, 50 percent of county costs.
It should be pointed out that in 1983 Richard F. Celeste was governor and there was a Democratic Majority in the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate, with wikipedia as confirmation. I list that item so that before this turns to a discussion of the current Republican majority, it’s demonstrated that both the Democrat and Republican majorities have allowed this situation to exist.
Now the issue comes as to what are the current members of our General Assembly and our current Governor going to do about it…
The Toledo PD’s office represents a great way of serving the public and educating its young aspiring lawyers to be, at minimal cost.
The lawyers contracted to serve as public defenders in Toledo are experienced, dedicated, private practice lawyers who bring years of experience to the position. Indigent Toledoans are not stuck with wet behind the ears law school flunkies to represent them, as so often public defender’s are portrayed.
Additionally, the law clerks at the public defenders who are all students at the UT law school, get invaluable experience serving the public and community in the court room and carry that experience with them into practice. The program should be funded on an increasing basis not reduced. If the City wants an equal number of lawyers on the prosecution side………make them a priority, increase their wages, and make public service a viable option for graduates carrying a substantial financial loan burden upon graduation.
August 24th, 2007 at 4:44 pm