Pennsylvania
The state of Pennsylvania delegates to its local governments the responsibility for administering indigent defense services in adult criminal trials. Local governments primarily fund indigent defense, with the state providing some funding. The state exercises limited oversight of local indigent defense services.
The state of Pennsylvania delegates to its local governments the responsibility for funding and administering indigent defense services for adult criminal cases in its appellate courts. The state has no entity to exercise oversight of the delivery of these services.
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67 Counties Primarily Locally Funded
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67 Counties Locally Administered
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67 Counties with No Commission and Limited Authority
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67 Counties Locally Funded
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67 Counties Locally Administered
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67 Counties with No State Oversight
Every county in Pennsylvania is responsible for administering and primarily funding indigent defense services. Pursuant to state law, every county in the state except for Philadelphia County must deliver services through a county-run public defender office. County governments are responsible for appointing a public defender, who can hire public defender staff as needed. Philadelphia County is the only county in the state that is not obligated under state law to have a county-run public defender office. Instead, Philadelphia contracts with a non-profit law firm, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, to deliver indigent defense services.
In every county, including Philadelphia County, private attorneys under contract handle conflict cases. Private attorneys are paid an annual fee or an hourly fee, depending on the county. The Indigent Defense Advisory Committee, working within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, is tasked with, among other things, providing training, proposing minimum statewide standards, and awarding state-funded grants to counties to supplement local funding.
Every county in Pennsylvania is responsible for funding and administering indigent defense services in adult appeals. Pursuant to state law, every county in the state except for Philadelphia County must deliver services through a county-run public defender office. County governments are responsible for appointing a public defender, who can hire public defender staff as needed. Philadelphia County is the only county in the state that is not obligated under state law to have a county-run public defender office. Instead, Philadelphia contracts with a non-profit law firm, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, to deliver services.
In every county, including Philadelphia County, private attorneys under contract handle conflict cases. Private attorneys are paid an annual fee or an hourly fee, depending on the county. The state of Pennsylvania does not have a state commission or agency responsible for overseeing the local delivery of appellate services.
Dig Deeper
What state entity has oversight authority over the local administration of indigent defense services?
Who are the members of the Indigent Defense Advisory Committee?
How are state funds provided to the counties?
In which branch of state government does the Indigent Defense Advisory Committee reside?
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Criminal justice issues that disproportionately harm poor people, such as wrongful convictions and over-incarceration, cannot be fixed if indigent defendants are given attorneys who do not have the time, resources, or qualifications, to be a constitutional check on government. Yet, investment in improving indigent defense services remains largely neglected. The Sixth Amendment Center is the only nonprofit organization in the country that exclusively examines, uncovers, and helps fix the root of the indigent defense crisis in which inequality is perpetuated because poor defendants do not get a fair fight.
The Sixth Amendment Center is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under EIN: 45-3477185.
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