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The Advocate
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Volume 22, No. 2, March 2000
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Public Advocacy
Blue Ribbon Group
$10 Million
Public defenders represent those who have been accused
of crimes but are unable to hire their own attorney. There are 227 full
time and 90 part-time public defenders in Kentucky. There are 41 people
on death row in Kentucky, all of whom are being represented by public defenders.
In the spring of 1999, the Public Advocate and the
Public Advocacy Commission formed a Blue Ribbon Group to assess the status
of Kentucky’s public defender system and to compare it to national counterparts:
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Kentucky ranks among the bottom five in funding of public
defender systems.
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Kentucky ranks near the bottom for public defender salaries.
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Kentucky provides inadequate juvenile representation.
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Kentucky public defender caseloads are two times the
national average.
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Private lawyers are inadequately compensated for public
defender work.
The 2000-2002 budget responds to the Blue Ribbon report
and ensures that Kentucky meets its constitutional obligation to provide
legal representation for indigent citizens accused of serious crimes. The
Governor’s budge recommendation includes $4 million in fiscal year 2001
and $6 million in fiscal year 2002 to:
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Correct a budget imbalance caused by increased caseloads.
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Bring public defender salaries even with comparable
positions in the southeast region.
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Open new offices in 21 counties to expand the system
to improve access and raise quality of representation.
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Reduce public defender caseloads by adding 10 public
defenders to the system.
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Expand the appellate capacity by one attorney.
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Provide adequate support services to the public defender
system.
"Over the years we have admirably delivered services to Kentucky’s
indigents who stand accused or convicted of crimes. However, due to funding
limitations, the Department has never been able to serve all those in need."
Michael D. Bowling
Robert F. Stephens
Co-Chairs, Blue Ribbon Group
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