Defender: Cases straining budget

October 12, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

NEW CASTLE, Pa.

An increase in the number of criminal cases in Lawrence County is straining the budget of the Public Defender’s office, according to Chief Public Defender Kenneth Kasenter.

Kasenter told Lawrence County Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday that his staff of four full-time and two part time attorneys and five support personnel are struggling to keep up with a case-load which he projects to reach 1,500 by year’s end. This is 200 more criminal cases than last year. The agency’s annual budget is $450,000.

He said they currently are handling seven homicide cases, and three of those are potential death penalty cases which require more attorney time.

Kasenter said his office is not able to “adequately and competently represent our clients” with the staff he has. He is requesting that the two part-time attorneys be upgraded to full-time for a total six full-time attorneys and that two part-time support positions be upgraded to fulltime. He commented that his attorneys are paid much less than they could get in the private sector.

Commissioner Steve Craig commented that commissioners are beginning their review of county offices in preparation for passage of the 2012 budget, and they will take into consideration increased funding for Kasenter’s office.

Commissioners acknowledged that both the state and federal Constitutions require counties to provide defense lawyers for the indigent and that it comes solely from tax money.

There is no grant money or other help available to help pay the bill.

The Public Defender’s office provides legal representation for criminal defendants whose crimes could result in jail time.