FUNDING APPROVED BY STATE SENATE TO SUPPLEMENT COUNTY SPENDING FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE

Funding has been approved by the state senate that would supplement county spending for indigent defense. Governor Shapiro’s budget had proposed spending seven-and-a-half-million dollars for people who can’t afford a lawyer to defend themselves. He’s also promised two-and-a-half million more in his next budget. Even with the infusion into the public defense system, Pennsylvania reportedly still ranks 45th in total indigent defense funding.