Defender funding is the focus of a 20 member group of professionals who are as diverse as they are prestigious. They have agreed to look at de-fender funding needs and will receive the benefit of the nation's preeminent expert on indigent defense, Robert Spangenberg, as their consultant. We appreciate their willingness to address our defender needs. Public Advocate Ernie Lewis fills us in on their work in this issue. 

$183 per case and 100,790 cases are critical facts that mark Kentucky's current defender reality. These facts and the advances made towards a statewide full-time defender program are discussed in this issue by Public Advocate Ernie Lewis. 

Defender Revenue is falling substantially short of what is needed to continue the current services which are being provided to the courts. A modest increase in assessment and collection of the Public Advocate administrative fees would provide de-fenders and also clerks with much needed funding. 

Prerelease Probation practice is updated. This new sentencing feature of HB 455 is evolving based on the experience of judges, corrections, prosecutors and defenders. 

DPA's 27^th Annual Conference is June 14-16, 1999 at the Executive Inn Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Phyllis Subin, public defender for the state of New Mexico will be a featured presenter. Mark it on your calendar and join us for the largest yearly gathering of criminal defense advocates. 
 

Paid for by State Funds. KRS 57.375 & donations. 

The Advocate provides education and research for persons serving indigent clients in order to improve client representation and insure fair process and reliable results for those whose life or liberty is at risk. The Advocate educates criminal justice professionals and the public on its work, mission and values. 

The Advocate is a bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) publication of the Department of Public Advocacy, an independent agency within the Public Protection and Regulation Cabinet. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of DPA. The Advocate welcomes correspondence on subjects covered by it. If you have an article our readers will find of interest, type a short outline or general description and send it to the Editor. 

Copyright © 1999, Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. All rights reserved. Permission for reproduction is granted provided credit is given to the author and DPA and a copy of the reproduction is sent to The Advocate. Permission for reproduction of separately copyrighted articles must be obtained from that copyright holder. 

EDITORS: 
Edward C. Monahan, Editor: 1984 - present 
Erwin W. Lewis, Editor: 1978-1983 
Cris Brown, Managing Editor: 1983-1993 
Tina Meadows, Graphics, Design, Layout & 
    Advertising 
Will Hilyerd - Web Edition Conversion 

Contributing Editors: 
Roy Collins – Recruiting & Personnel 
Rebecca DiLoreto – Juvenile Law 
Dan Goyette – Ethics 
Bruce Hackett – 6th Circuit Review 
Bob Hubbard – Retrospection 
Ernie Lewis – Plain View 
Julie Namkin – West’s Review 
Dave Norat – Ask Corrections 
Julia Pearson – Capital Case Review 
Jeff Sherr - District Court