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Indigent Defense in Texas: A Look Back and a Look Ahead

Indigent Defense in Texas: A Look Back and a Look Ahead. Sen. Rodney Ellis. Looking Back. 10 th anniversary of the FDA System prior to FDA was no system. Today. Indigent defense expenditures have increased. Today. Indigent defense funding has increased. Today. More attorneys appointed

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Indigent Defense in Texas: A Look Back and a Look Ahead

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  1. Indigent Defense in Texas: A Look Back and a Look Ahead Sen. Rodney Ellis

  2. Looking Back 10th anniversary of the FDA System prior to FDA was no system

  3. Today Indigent defense expenditures have increased

  4. Today Indigent defense funding has increased

  5. Today More attorneys appointed More public defenders’ offices New and innovative programs

  6. Looking Ahead: The Challenges • Funding • Independence • Standards development • Accountability

  7. National Trends in Indigent Defense According to Spangenberg Report from 2008,per capita spending on indigent defense in the US was $14.76. Texas ranked 48th of 50 states at $7.16. Most indigent defense systems are funded primarily by state government. Texas ranked 37th of 50 states in the portion of funds provided by the state (12.3%).

  8. 2008 Per Capita Spending 10 Largest States (plus AL and LA)

  9. Portion of Indigent Defense Services Funded by State

  10. Why a Public Defender Office? • Quality • Cost-effective AND high quality • Organized, institutional infrastructure • Assign cases based on skill • Access to in-house investigators and experts • Efficiency and Cost-Savings • Economies of scale, avoid duplication • Budget predictability, savings throughout ID system • Studies document lower cost per case

  11. Why a Public Defender Office? • Public Safety • Increase public trust, confidence in system • Improve reliability of convictions • Strengthen adversarial system

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