Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Utah County public defenders report sharp rise in caseloads and hours, cite national standards
Summary
The Utah County Public Defender Association told commissioners Sept. 13 that cases assigned in Q1–Q2 2023 rose to 2,817 from 2,002 in the same period of 2022, and that extrapolated hours needed to meet national standards rose to 50,219 from 31,758. Presenters cited newly released ABA/RAND guidance and said budget and staffing adjustments are required.
Benjamin Young, representing the Utah County Public Defender Association, told the county commission on Sept. 13 that the office saw 2,817 cases assigned from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2023, and that extrapolating the hours required by case type produces a total of 50,219 hours to provide effective assistance of counsel for that period.
"Number of cases assigned in 2023 was 2,817," Young said during a quarterly presentation, adding that the 2022 Q1–Q2 total was 2,002. Young and staff said the increase is not only in volume but in case severity, which drives a disproportionate rise in time and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat