Nuria DiLuzio, Northampton County's Chief Public Defender, asked County Council last night to create a new position in her office for a full-time first assistant. That position currently exists but it is part-time. She assured Council that she has money in her budget to pay for that position this year. She added that if Council creates this position, she will return and ask to eliminate the part-time position.
Her office currently consists of 13 part-time public defenders, 4 full-time public defenders, a support staff of 3 and a client advocate. Her office handles 75% of the criminal cases filed in the county.
She said that her office is very strong and winning a record number of criminal cases.
Amazingly, up until now, clients who sought a public defender were unable to do so online. She finally persuaded the county's outside IT department to make that option available, and it "really has streamlined our service" with the public and defendants awaiting trial.
She also answered questions about the county's problem-solving courts, where her office assigns a defender.
County Council will vote on her request tonight.
She's doing much better than most Public Defenders throughout the state. According to Pittsburgh Courier, Pennsylvania faces a shortage of about 30% of the public defenders it needs. This results in criminal defendants sitting in jail longer than necessary and clogs dockets
This is a no-brainer for council, but then...........................
ReplyDeleteSmaller counties have better staffed offices. This is a long time coming for the Defenders.
ReplyDeleteEvery county is better staffed and ran than this one. Lamont has put this county in such a hole with staffing it will be almost impossible to fix it in the short-term. Because the only thing that will fix it is paying the county employees a livable wage. And Lamont has put this county in such a financial disaster that now the county cannot pay them. Because they have no money....
DeleteAnd to get money Tara is going to need to raise taxes substantially. And even then it will take a year to get that revenue in the the county. Before it can be used. And by then Tara will be gone because Lamont screwed her and the employees and the residents of northampton County over do bad it actually is almost a tragedy.
But don't worry Bernie. You will keep pulling for him.
Can you not read ? The PD’s Office is very well staffed and very well run by a person appointed by McClure 8 years ago.
DeleteUnlike a nursing home, this is a core function of county government enshrined in the Constitution. If a tax increase is proposed for next year, it will be because of the Gracedale operating deficit.
ReplyDeleteVOTE NO! She is the Public Defender and she should run the office and assign the Public Defenders to what cases they will handle. If she gets a full timer, then what will she do? VOTE NO!
ReplyDeleteChill out. The Public Defender's Office has historically been
Deleteunderfunded by design and mismatched against the District Attorneys Office as a rule of law. She is asking for help to help you. God won’t help you if you ever need it, but she may….
Nuria does a great job running this office and all the attorneys love working there. The DAs office on the other hand has been a sinking ship since Morganelli left, and it keeps getting worse. Today one of the ADAs showed up to central court in sneakers!! I guess that’s better than the ADA who occasionally wears a track suit to work.
ReplyDeleteCommenting with real identity proved to be a PIA. In any event, Nuria is the best of the best. Her reasoning unquestioned, her accounting solid, her need is real. Simply, the very best.
ReplyDelete