|
For Immediate
Release
3/27/07
CONTACT:
Lesley Crozier
(717) 787-1349
PA
Senate Republican Communications
(717) 787-6725
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.
 Print this page
E-mail
this page
|
