Michigan public defenders face staffing crisis and case overload

In a recent government meeting, discussions centered on the challenges facing the prosecuting attorney's office, particularly regarding case management and staffing shortages. The prosecuting attorney noted a decline in the number of cases being brought forward, attributing this to a more selective approach by the office and a statewide shortage of attorneys. This shortage is compounded by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission's (MIDC) new standard, which limits public defenders to a maximum of 150 felony cases and 400 district court cases per year. Currently, many attorneys in the office exceed these limits, highlighting a significant issue in the state's legal system.

The meeting revealed that the office is actively recruiting to address these staffing challenges, with efforts to attract law school graduates and experienced attorneys. The prosecuting attorney mentioned an upcoming interview with a candidate who has extensive experience in capital cases, which could help alleviate some of the workload. Despite these efforts, the average caseload for felony attorneys remains high, with some managing between 100 to 150 open cases.

Additionally, the office is working on improving its case management system, which is currently facing storage limitations due to the volume of data from ongoing cases. A proposal for a new, more efficient system has been submitted for review, with hopes that it will streamline operations and reduce costs associated with data migration.

Commissioner Barrett raised concerns about discrepancies in attorney caseloads, noting that newer attorneys naturally have fewer cases as they build their experience. The prosecuting attorney clarified that the variation in caseloads is primarily due to the length of time attorneys have been with the office and the roles they currently occupy.

Overall, the meeting underscored the pressing need for staffing solutions and technological upgrades within the prosecuting attorney's office to ensure effective legal representation and case management in the face of ongoing challenges.