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Public defender highlights behavioral health docket successes, warns of staffing strain
Summary
A senior trial attorney described four recent graduates of Hampton's behavioral health docket and urged dedicated staffing; she said the office lacks a full-time position and attorneys manage heavy caseloads.
Daria, a senior trial attorney at the Hampton Public Defender's Office who manages the mental health dockets, told council that four participants recently graduated from the behavioral health docket, each entering stable housing and employment. She said the docket was intended to include a full-time staff position to manage participants but that post has not been filled; currently she and a mitigation specialist manage the docket's work in addition to heavy caseloads.
Daria said she has 137 open cases and estimated her colleagues have between 80 and 100 each, characterizing the office's workload as representing roughly 1,500 Hampton citizens facing criminal charges across the office. She urged council to recognize the docket's value and the need for resources to sustain it. Council did not act at the hearing; the budget adoption is scheduled for May 13, 2026.
