The Constitution Project has released a report which details the endemic and systemic failures of the indigent defense system and recommends twenty-two specific reforms to address the problems."[D]espite the fact that funding for indigent defense has increased since the 1963 Gideon decision, there is uncontroverted evidence that funding still remains woefully inadequate and is deteriorating in light of the current economic difficulties that confront the nation. . . . insufficient funding has resulted in unacceptable levels of training, salaries, supervision, and staffing of public defender programs. . . . In addition, private lawyers assigned to cases for fees receive compensation that is not even enough to cover their overhead and that discourages their participation. . . ."
For a copy of the report: http://tcpjusticedenied.org/
To listen to an NPR story on the report: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103108229
Coincidentally, I noticed a prime example of the extreme indifference our counties pay to adequate public defender services just yesterday. It seems that Canyon County gave notice of its intent to terminate its PD contract with Wiebe and Fouser and seek bids. The county, no doubt, wants someone to underbid Wiebe so it can save a few dollars by screwing poor people. Not that I am discouraging any interested individuals from applying (that would be a restraint of traitors or nauseous interference of lowballing or something like that), but wouldn't it be nice if no one does and then Wiebe makes the county come back with more money?
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