Deschutes County DA sees progress in reducing shortage of public defenders; fewer defendants left waiting

Isabella Warren is speaking with Steve Gunnels for a report at Five

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Courts across Oregon are still struggling to resolve a shortage of public defenders, with hundreds of charged defendants waiting for legal representation and many released from custody until a lawyer is appointed and cases can proceed. But Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels says the local situation has improved markedly in recent weeks.

According to Gunnels, the county has seen a significant decline since last month in defendants waiting for public defenders. One of the best-known cases initially affected by the state's public defender shortage is Dawn Holland's aggravated theft charges.

Much of the shortage has come from relatively low pay for public defenders, compared to those in private practice, and limits placed on caseloads.

The Oregon Public Defenders Commission has been under scrutiny by lawmakers and local and state officials, including Gunnels, for their handling of the problem. The commission spent $96 million last year sending money to counties to hire more public defenders.

It also hopes to boost the number of attorneys from the equivalent of 506 full-time attorneys now to 986 in six years. That’s adding another 480 attorneys, or an average of 80 annually. 

The commission hopes to hire 160 attorneys in the next two years as well.

Isabella Warren is speaking with Gunnels and a public defense attorney with Deschutes Defenders to learn if this recent decline in the lack of representation will last. Her report is coming up tonight at Five on NewsChannel 21.