Saturday, September 11, 2004

New public defenders' office for Hampton and Newport News

The Newport News paper has this report ("State assists with local legal offices," 9/11/04) on new public defenders' offices in Newport News and Hampton.

Most Virginia jurisdictions do not have public defenders, relying instead on court-appointed private attorneys to defend indigent people accused of crimes.

The article concludes:

"The new offices will join 21 others spread across the state, including those in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth and Suffolk.

Together, the four are expected to save the state $700,000 over the next two years, said Del. Phillip A. Hamilton, R-Newport News, who sponsored legislation supporting the new offices."

No comments: