NHBA Indigent Defense Crisis Series: Understanding the Public Defender Shortage, Part One

By: Tom Jarvis

Outlets: NH Bar News

Published: January 17, 2025

Words: 1,878

Last Updated: 1 year ago

Body Text Preview

New Hampshire’s criminal courts are amid a crisis due to a critical shortage of public defenders, contract counsel, and court-appointed counsel. This has caused delays in the court system, leaving indigent defendants waiting for months – some while languishing in custody – before receiving legal representation. This shortage is exacerbated by factors such as high attrition, burnout, low wages, heavy caseloads, and student debt. The shortage, a nationwide issue as well as a New Hampshire …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us