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La. Public Defenders Can't Meet Demands Due To Funding

Courtesy: Public Domain

LA PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE FUNDING - The Louisiana Justice Reinvestment Task  Force has been charged with making criminal justice reform recommendations aimed at reducing the incarceration rate, but funding for public defenders has not been considered.  The Task Force will make recommendations to the state legislature in the next few weeks.  A class action suit, filed last month in state district court, is seeking to have that funding mechanism declared unconstitutional. Meanwhile, 33 of the state’s 42 public defender offices are turning away clients due to lack of resources.

Credit Courtesy: Wiki-Commons
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Courtesy: Wiki-Commons
Calcasieu Parish Courthouse

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.