6 days ago
Public defenders roll out 12-month plan to tackle Oregon shortage
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon's Public Defense Commission is rolling out a 12-month plan to tackle the state's .
At Gov. Tina Kotek's request, the plan ramps things up with more lawyers, bigger caseloads for top attorneys, and fast-tracked court dockets.
Ex-military father at large after 3 daughters found dead in central Washington
The state says the number of people in custody without a lawyer is already down 30% since January, but nearly 4,400 others are still facing charges without a lawyer.
For years, Oregon has struggled with a public defender shortage, which experts say is a root cause for issues like delayed trials and overcrowded jails.
Incident at Battle Ground home leaves two dead, one critically injured
The proposal outlines ways to increase the public defense system's capacity by hiring newly graduated lawyers, strengthening contracts, collaborating with public safety partners, and compensating attorneys for voluntarily taking cases beyond their contract.
'This plan reflects the urgency with which OPDC is working to ensure that every eligible individual has access to timely and adequate legal representation,' Executive Director Ken Sanchagrin said. 'As champions of the Sixth Amendment, we are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Oregonians.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
