Kentucky
The state of Kentucky funds and administers all indigent defense services in adult criminal trials. A state commission is responsible for providing oversight of services statewide.
The state of Kentucky funds and administers all indigent defense services for adult criminal cases in its appellate courts. A state commission is responsible for providing oversight of services statewide.
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120 Counties State Funded
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120 Counties State Administered
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120 Counties with a Commission With Statewide Authority
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120 Counties State Funded
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120 Counties State Administered
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120 Counties with a Commission With Statewide Authority
The state-funded Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) administers all indigent defense services statewide. Trial offices provide representation for adult and juvenile cases across the state and a conflict service division contracts with private attorneys for conflict cases. A post-trial division administers appellate and post-conviction representation.
The public advocate leads the DPA, which has standards-setting authority. The Public Advocacy Commission oversees the DPA. The governor appoints most of the commission’s 12 members from recommendations by diverse groups. The governor is also responsible for selecting the public advocate from a list of three nominees provided by the commission.
The state-funded Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) administers all indigent services statewide. Staff attorneys in DPA’s post-trial division provide adult appellate representation. This division also handles juvenile appeals and post-conviction matters, and includes the Kentucky Innocence Project. DPA has trial offices to provide representation for adult and juvenile trials. The conflict services division provides representation in conflict cases through private attorney contracts.
The public advocate leads the DPA, which has standards-setting authority. The Public Advocacy Commission oversees the DPA. The governor appoints most of the commission’s 12 members from recommendations by diverse groups. The governor is also responsible for selecting the public advocate from a list of three nominees provided by the commission.
Dig Deeper
Who serves on the commission?
Can the agency declare a conflict based on excess workload?
Where does state funding come from?
In which branch of state government does the indigent defense system reside?
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Criminal justice issues that disproportionately harm poor people, such as wrongful convictions and over-incarceration, cannot be fixed if indigent defendants are given attorneys who do not have the time, resources, or qualifications, to be a constitutional check on government. Yet, investment in improving indigent defense services remains largely neglected. The Sixth Amendment Center is the only nonprofit organization in the country that exclusively examines, uncovers, and helps fix the root of the indigent defense crisis in which inequality is perpetuated because poor defendants do not get a fair fight.
The Sixth Amendment Center is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under EIN: 45-3477185.
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