On average, public defender offices handle 50-70% of the cases that flow through a county court system. But funded from county coffers, the offices get the short end of the stick on resources.
Public defender offices have small budgets, small staff—and lots of cases. Lots of cases with people accused of crimes; who are not always the easiest clientele to serve. But they deserve service. Every American has a 6th amendment right to an attorney in trial.
Public defenders say when their offices are understaffed and overworked, that right is in jeopardy…