Committee Endorses Senator Browne's Resolution

Measure calls for study of services for indigent defendants

The Senate Judiciary Committee today endorsed Senate Resolution 42, a measure introduced by Senator Pat Browne to establish a task force to study how Pennsylvania provides legal services to indigent criminal defendants and review how other states provide these services.

"The interests of all Pennsylvanians are served when Pennsylvania's indigent criminal defense system operates in an effective, ethical and cost-efficient manner," Senator Browne said. "If counsel for the indigent cannot effectively represent their clients, there is an increased possibility for the wrongful conviction and incarceration of innocent people as well as the continuing risk posed by the failure to convict the actual perpetrators."

SR 42 directs the Joint State Government Commission to establish a bipartisan task force consisting of members appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate and two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

The Resolution also directs the task force to call upon state, local and private sector experts to look into the issue.

"The task force will create an advisory committee made up of individuals with significant experience in the defense of criminal cases and those with expertise in the area of quality representation of indigent criminal defendants," Senator Browne said.

As part of the study, the task force will look at actions taken by other states. Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont and Virginia have recently reviewed their indigent criminal defense systems to ensure that adequate representation is being provided to all indigent defendants.

Contact:

Lesley Crozier
(717) 787-1349