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Hinkle announces money for
Grant County court system
Nearly $400,000 is headed
for Grant County to assist in the defense of dependency and juvenile
cases in county court.
Rep.
Bill Hinkle sponsored legislation last session that gives state
money to counties for indigent defense.
“This legislation created programs with state money to help the
overburdened public defenders,” said Hinkle, R-Cle Elum. “Grant County
was one of those counties selected to receive the state funds.”
Grant County will add attorneys and support staff for public defense in
dependency and juvenile offense cases. Counties all over the state have
been under pressure to reduce caseloads to standards endorsed by the
Washington Bar Association.
“These courts are in a real crisis,” said Joanne Moore, director of the
state Office of Public Defense, the agency distributing the funds.
“Something needed to be done immediately.”
She said that some attorneys were so overloaded that they had no time to
return phone calls, and just barely enough time to meet with each client
before court.
“Grant County was identified as one of the counties absolutely
overloaded with these types of cases,” Hinkle said. “This is an
important step in helping them reduce the number of cases and improve
representation for families involved.”
Dependency cases are cases that determine whether parents retain their
parental rights and juvenile offender cases involve juveniles charged
with crimes. The state funds should allow the hiring of more public
defenders for parents and juveniles. The programs also add a social
worker and investigative support to the juvenile court process.
“I’m hoping that this state money will ease the burden of families and
court staff in Grant County,” Hinkle said.
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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