NCJ Number
155900
Date Published
1995
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This Eighteenth Annual Report of Vermont's Office of the Defender General summarizes the activities of this office for fiscal year 1994.
Abstract
The Office of the Defender General was established in 1972 to provide legal representation to indigent persons accused of criminal offenses that may result in any term of imprisonment or a fine of more than $1,000. It is also required by statute to provide counsel to children who are the subject of juvenile proceedings as alleged delinquents; for parties to juvenile proceedings, including children in need of care and supervision; to children in the custody of the Commissioner of Social and Rehabilitation Services; to persons in the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections; and to needy persons in extradition or parole proceedings. In reporting on the status of the Office of the Defender General, this Annual Report notes that despite a continuing pattern of caseload escalation, budgetary constraints have prevented the addition of the staff required to keep pace with these demands. In fiscal year 1994 the Vermont Legislature added three new public defender positions, along with the minimal funding required to fill them ($75,000); however, with the beginning of fiscal year 1994, the State administration imposed a 2-percent across-the-board recision for all State programs. This recision in the public defense program negated $65,353 of the funding increase. This report provides information on program structure and the demand for services, along with statistics on the public defense caseload, assigned-counsel caseload, expenditures, and a comparison of disposed charges and expenditures.