Convince Texas' Congress to Increase Spending for the Public Defense System
Convince Texas' Congress to Increase Spending for the Public Defense System
The Issue
A little over a year ago, Jon Everett was sexually assaulted. Jon was sixteen. He was young, still in high school, in a relationship, with a family that loved him. Just one problem— that family was poor. When the case went to court, they couldn't possibly afford a lawyer and so, they were given a "Court-Appointed Lawyer" who, quite frankly, didn't care one bit about Jon or his story. He didn't look for any evidence. As expected, Jon and his family lost the case. Unable to feel safe again in his city, he committed suicide.
In every county, there are about of these 38 Public Defense or "Count-Appointed Lawyers" provided for the needy and impoverished should they be taken to court. However, unknown to most of the public, there is a vicious funding cycle that causes the system to fail. Most state Congresses, Texas and Washington State included, doesn't provide enough money for the system to function and, because of that, lawyers starting in the system are only paid $45,000 a year. This low wage drives off all potential employees but two groups— a very small percentage that simply want to help others and would join no matter the pay, and the lawyers that simply don't care. The latter is, easily, the majority of the Public Defense System. These are the ones that don't care about anything but their pay and, for that reason, will not even try to win the case. Most don't even talk to the defendant before their trial or hearing. The system cannot afford to fire these people because they have no one to take their place. As the Public Defense is seen as a failure with these terrible employees, no one will increase their funding, which deters better lawyers. And this is a massive problem, as over 29,000 people annually rely on these Count-Appointed Lawyers.
Please, for Jon, for the family that never received justice, sign this petition. Though I live in Texas, the problem can be solved here just as much as it can in Washington State or anywhere else in the U.S.
For the Jon's out that there that can still be saved, help send this petition to the Texas Congress.
82
The Issue
A little over a year ago, Jon Everett was sexually assaulted. Jon was sixteen. He was young, still in high school, in a relationship, with a family that loved him. Just one problem— that family was poor. When the case went to court, they couldn't possibly afford a lawyer and so, they were given a "Court-Appointed Lawyer" who, quite frankly, didn't care one bit about Jon or his story. He didn't look for any evidence. As expected, Jon and his family lost the case. Unable to feel safe again in his city, he committed suicide.
In every county, there are about of these 38 Public Defense or "Count-Appointed Lawyers" provided for the needy and impoverished should they be taken to court. However, unknown to most of the public, there is a vicious funding cycle that causes the system to fail. Most state Congresses, Texas and Washington State included, doesn't provide enough money for the system to function and, because of that, lawyers starting in the system are only paid $45,000 a year. This low wage drives off all potential employees but two groups— a very small percentage that simply want to help others and would join no matter the pay, and the lawyers that simply don't care. The latter is, easily, the majority of the Public Defense System. These are the ones that don't care about anything but their pay and, for that reason, will not even try to win the case. Most don't even talk to the defendant before their trial or hearing. The system cannot afford to fire these people because they have no one to take their place. As the Public Defense is seen as a failure with these terrible employees, no one will increase their funding, which deters better lawyers. And this is a massive problem, as over 29,000 people annually rely on these Count-Appointed Lawyers.
Please, for Jon, for the family that never received justice, sign this petition. Though I live in Texas, the problem can be solved here just as much as it can in Washington State or anywhere else in the U.S.
For the Jon's out that there that can still be saved, help send this petition to the Texas Congress.
82
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on March 19, 2019