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Public defender asks board to raise non-attorney supplements and consider reentry position
Summary
The public defender presented staffing pressures, high caseloads and a request to raise non-attorney supplements to narrow pay compression and to pilot a reentry/para-social-worker position to support client reentry and pretrial planning.
Arlington's Public Defender office told the County Board the office is operating at sustained high caseloads and seeks two targeted budget changes: raise supplements for non-attorney staff closer to attorney supplements and fund a new reentry or paralegal-style role, possibly as a one-year fellowship.
Public Defender (Ms. Carpenter) explained that the office had been through turnover and that four newly licensed attorneys were recently sworn in; the work includes representing defendants in cases that could carry jail time, juvenile cases and serious adult felonies that require coordination with behavioral health and reentry partners.
Nut graf: The office asked the board to address pay compression: non-attorney staff currently receive a 15% supplement while entry-level attorneys receive 22.5% and senior attorneys 25.5%; the public defender asked that non-attorney supplements rise to reduce turnover and to align pay with comparable county positions.
The office also asked the board to consider a reentry-focused position (described as a paralegal/social-work hybrid) to help match clients to services, coordinate release planning and reduce preventable detention. The public defender proposed a one-year fellowship as a lower-cost, time-limited option to pilot the role.
Ending: Board members asked about staff wellness and operational constraints in the jail; several members said they would follow up on funding for a reentry position and explore employee assistance options to address burnout.
