National
Association of Pretrial Service Agencies Recognize Pioneering Work of KY Defenders
(Orlando, FL, Monday September 16,
2013) The National Association of Pretrial Service Agencies (NAPSA) awarded the
Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy NAPSA’s John C. Hendricks Pioneer Award
for the Kentucky statewide public defender program’s strategic commitment to
advance public defender advocacy across Kentucky resulting in an increase of
release for indigents prior to trial.
Presenting
the award in Orlando, Charlotte
McPherson, Manager, Pretrial Services at Kentucky Administrative
Office of the Courts,
said “Kentucky defenders stand out. They have pushed the envelope with their
advocacy to insure the pretrial release law is applied equally to those who are
poor and unable to make money bail. Kentucky defenders decided to make pretrial
release a priority with a comprehensive strategy to achieve just results for
their clients by litigating for release at first appearance, challenging unfair
decisions in the appellate courts, and sustaining this effort through
continuous legal education of its attorneys. B. Scott West, DPA General Counsel and longtime
public defender, leads DPA’s renewed emphasis on bail advocacy which has
included creating the Kentucky Pretrial Release Manual, a ready litigation resource, and partnering with the KY
Pretrial Release Officers on education and communication. Over
the last two years pretrial release has increased 3% across Kentucky.”
“One of the most important objectives for our
clients is release pretrial,” KY Public Advocate Ed Monahan said in accepting the award. “Empirical evidence shows
that having counsel at the initial appearance before a judge improves the
outcomes for a criminal defendant. And studies show that, holding all other
factors constant, individuals who are detained prior to trial suffer from
greater conviction rates and more severe sentencing than those who are released
prior to trial. I am proud of this recognition of our KY defenders who are
working to provide our clients with what we all expect for ourselves, vigorous
advocacy for release at first appearance and on appeal. Improving our
collaboration with the KY Pretrial Release Officers has been a critical part of
the increase in release. These Officers are spectacular professionals.”
NAPSA
is the national professional association for the pretrial release and pretrial
diversion fields. The John C. Hendricks
Pioneer Award is given from time to time by the NAPSA Board of Directors to specially
recognize those who have been instrumental in guiding the pretrial movement to new
levels of effectiveness,” said NAPSA
President Cherise Fanno Burdeen. “We thank the Kentucky defenders for their dedication
to pretrial justice. In conjunction with new legal reforms, new risk
assessments and the professional work of the KY Pretrial Release Officers, DPA’s nationally
recognized pretrial release initiative has avoided costs for KY
jails without reduction in public safety”
“As a result of HB 463, Kentucky finds itself
once again at the forefront of pretrial justice reform. This time, however,
there is a critical difference,” said Tim
Murray, Executive Director of the Pretrial Justice Institute in Washington,
D.C. “Kentucky defenders refuse to allow
the state’s justice system to operate as though reform has not been legislated.
With dogged determination, defenders refuse to accept needless pretrial
detention as a necessary evil of a busy justice system but instead insist that
bail decisions regarding their clients be based upon measured risk – not the
dollars they have in their pockets. The Department’s vigorous pursuit of
pretrial justice in Kentucky has indeed set the standard for other communities
to emulate. This award is the latest installment in recognizing their
leadership.”
Jerry Cox of Rockcastle County, Chair of the KY Public
Advocacy Commission, the statewide public defender governing board, and President of the
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said “It is imperative for
defense lawyers to represent their clients from the first appearance and
vigorously advocate for pretrial release. Nothing less is acceptable. The
pretrial release work by DPA has helped more clients be released prior to their
trials. This is something we all want. And it saves counties money it can use
for other needs. It deserves this
important national recognition.”
