On Monday, The Metropolitan King County Council unanimously approved a new model for the funding of public defense services in King County in an effort to put defendants on an equal playing field with the attorneys prosecuting their cases. “For many in our justice system, Public Defenders are the only attorneys they will ever meet,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, chair of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “The work Public Defenders do for their clients supports our legal justice system, so it makes sense for them to receive a salary equal to their experience-and to the salary received by the prosecuting attorney. This model urges us to achieve parity as it increases the transparency of how we calculate the cost of public defense.” The model is intended to provide policy direction to the Executive in calculating the costs of indigent defense services in King County. The model also gives direction in preparation of the annual proposed budget for public defense and structuring the contracts for indigent defense services with nonprofit agencies. The model also establishes a uniform payment structure for nonprofit agencies providing legal defense services, and budgets payment for public defender salaries at parity with deputies in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The plan is consistent with the Council’s policy directive to provide salary parity between public defenders and attorneys in the Prosecutor’s office. The final budget for public defense will be set in the fall when the Council adopts a 2006 budget. The model approved today provides the Council and the Executive with flexibility in developing the public defense budget, taking into consideration the entire General Fund budget and other policy priorities. “Criminal justice costs are responsible for more than 70 percent of the King County General Fund Budget. This model recognizes the job done by our defense agencies while acknowledging our budget realities,” said Gossett. “It will be invaluable as we work through the 2006 budget process.”
Must Read
Podcast: Target Faces $12 Billion Loss Amid Expanding Boycott Movement
Target's decision to reduce its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and disregard appeals to support Black-owned media has sparked a widespread national boycott, resulting in an estimated $12 billion loss for the company.
