8.8: Costs of Defending Indigents
- Page ID
- 48406
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The costs of defending indigent defendants can be quite high. Additionally, the number of cases involving indigent defendants is increasing. It can be quite difficult to find attorney which are qualified and willing to accept the very low fees offered when they could be earning more in private practice. One possibility to improve the quality of attorneys hired for indigent defendants is to increase the funding available.
However, most government officials see funding these programs as politically unpopular. It can be a challenge to explain to the citizenry that their tax money is being used to both apprehend alleged offenders and prosecute them as well as defend them. However, it is only when both opposing teams bring their best effort into the court room that the actual truths of the case will become evident to the jury or judge and justice can truly be served.