Whereas Clark County’s chief public defender says he’s grateful the Legislature greater than doubled funding for public protection companies in its new funds, he nonetheless needs the state would do extra.
The brand new state funds, which has but to be signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, consists of $27.2 million to be disbursed to counties for the price of offering public defenders for these accused of crimes who can’t afford their very own attorneys. That’s a rise from $10.6 million within the earlier biannual funds, in keeping with reporting from The Seattle Instances.
The rise would imply the state, which has traditionally coated lower than 3 p.c of statewide prices, would now fund roughly 6 p.c of prices in 2026 and 2027, in keeping with InvestigateWest.
The state Workplace of Public Protection allocates the funding to counties and cities by way of a grant program, primarily based on inhabitants and felony caseloads. The workplace has not but opened grant functions for 2026.
In 2025, Clark County acquired about $442,000. The county’s annual funds for public protection ranges from $6.9 million to $8.5 million, relying on that yr’s demand. Chief Public Defender Christopher Swaby mentioned the demand just isn’t prone to lower sooner or later.
Two payments launched within the state’s Home and Senate sought to dedicate funding to cowl 50 p.c of county’s public protection prices. Neither invoice made it out of committee.
Clark County modified public protection fashions final yr, shifting to an workplace comprised of employees attorneys and away from attorneys engaged on a contract foundation. The transfer was geared toward rising effectivity and making certain sufficient attorneys to deal with an rising caseload.
