Kansas is facing a crisis when it comes to defending accused criminals who cannot afford their own attorneys. A shrinking number of rural attorneys is making it harder. If the problem is not addressed there is a risk that courts will throw out criminal cases.
Public defenders in Kansas face borderline unethical caseloads, lower pay rates than peers and now the possibility of even less funding to address attorney shortages.
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About 15 people spoke in favor of a centralized public defender office for Douglas County, and a few others — including the county’s top prosecutor — spoke against it or expressed uncertainty during a hearing Sunday afternoon.
Local residents can share their opinion of whether Douglas County should have an adult felony public defender office during a meeting coming up Sunday afternoon.
