Public defenders roll out 12-month plan to tackle Oregon shortage

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Oregon’s Public Defense Commission is rolling out a 12-month plan to tackle the state’s ongoing public defender shortage.

At Gov. Tina Kotek’s request, the plan ramps things up with more lawyers, bigger caseloads for top attorneys, and fast-tracked court dockets.

The state says the number of people in custody without a lawyer is already down 30% since January, but nearly 4,400 others are still facing charges without a lawyer.

For years, Oregon has struggled with a public defender shortage, which experts say is a root cause for issues like delayed trials and overcrowded jails.

The proposal outlines ways to increase the public defense system’s capacity by hiring newly graduated lawyers, strengthening contracts, collaborating with public safety partners, and compensating attorneys for voluntarily taking cases beyond their contract.

“This plan reflects the urgency with which OPDC is working to ensure that every eligible individual has access to timely and adequate legal representation,” Executive Director Ken Sanchagrin said. “As champions of the Sixth Amendment, we are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all Oregonians.”