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Lawmakers hear widespread call to study indigent defense funding and delivery in SB 5,912
Summary
Local officials, counties, public defense groups and the Office of Public Defense told the committee that a shortage of public defenders and disparate regional capacity justify reinstating an Indigent Defense Task Force to recommend reforms; witnesses warned state funding will be necessary to avoid shifting costs to counties.
Senate Bill 5,912 would reinstate an Indigent Defense Task Force to review Washington’s public defense delivery, summarize services, review staffing and workload standards, and recommend improvements by Jan. 1, 2028.
Yakima County Commissioner LaDon Linde and Vicki Baker, Yakima city manager, described acute local fiscal pressures: Linde said Yakima County faces structural budget shortfalls and a critical…
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