Spokane's Public Defender Office Struggles to Keep Up
Fort Wayne News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · The Daily News Now!
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Show Notes
Spokanes Public Defenders Office faces a significant challenge, with the need to triple its size by 2036 to meet a state court mandate. Currently, attorneys handle up to 400 cases each, but this number is set to drop to 120 cases per lawyer by 2036. The office has already turned away over 160 cases this year due to staffing shortages, despite taxpayers covering arrest and jail costs upfront. The Chief Public Defender has requested additional attorneys to reduce refusals, but budget concerns and competition for talent statewide pose challenges. The city is also exploring alternative measures, such as allowing only prosecutors to file charges and using interns to fill gaps. However, tripling the number of attorneys could strain resources and force difficult decisions on funding and operations.
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