For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 4 - 12

The Path Forward:
Transforming Public
Defense in Pennsylvania
Rob Perkins
T
oday in Pennsylvania, we have more talented and committed
public defense lawyers than ever before. They deserve
to work within public defense systems that protect their
independence, provide proper training and resources, and ensure
they have reasonable caseloads. To help make that a reality, in May
2024, the Allegheny Lawyers Initiative for Justice (ALI) published a
report titled, " Transforming Public Defense in Allegheny County:
The Path Forward. " The report proposes ten reforms-and related
implementation recommendations-to Allegheny County's
indigent defense systems.
While tailored to Allegheny County, the reforms are necessary
throughout Pennsylvania. Thus, the report can also serve as a
12 For The Defense l Vol. 9, Issue 4
resource for other counties seeking to improve their public defense
systems. While Pennsylvania may one day fairly fund indigent
defense at the state level, we don't know when-if ever-that
will happen. So public defense lawyers can't sit and wait for the
General Assembly to fix things. Rather, we must advocate for
change at the county level now.
Some report recommendations relate to governance and require
no funding to adopt. Others will require a financial investment
to remediate the chronic underfunding of indigent defense.1
But
the data proves that this investment will save taxpayers money by
reducing unnecessary incarceration costs.2

For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 4

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 4

Contents
For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 4 - 1
For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 4 - 2
For the Defense - Vol. 9, Issue 4 - Contents
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