Pennsylvania is the only state that does not provide funding for public defenders
We are past time for indigent defense reform
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Pennsylvania has some of the lowest paid public defenders in the country, with starting salaries well below those of teachers.
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The Public Defender Act, the only state law governing indigent defense, currently does not mandate equal representation for the poor.
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Numerous states have indigent defense commissions that provide funding and oversight for local public defender offices.
Budgets reflect priorities
The Pennsylvania Budget is $32.7 billion
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The Commonwealth spends $2 billion on state prisons, racking up increases in $70 million each year.
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17 of Pennsylvania’s prisons are operating at over 100% of their operation bed capacity.
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Criminal justice expenditures constitute $7.6% of the budget.
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If Pennsylvania provided just $100 million for indigent defense, it would amount to only a 0.0003% increase in the budget.