Rhode Island public defender's office denied additional attorneys

The Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender is struggling with understaffing and high caseloads. Deputy Public Defender Matthew Toro told lawmakers that planned pay raises for attorneys have been delayed for months due to a state payroll system update. The raises were aimed at retaining the current staff of 58 attorneys and attracting new hires, but are still not implemented. The Rhode Island General Assembly allocated $750,000 to increase salaries, but average pay remains at about $94,000. Toro noted that the delays are due to a major IT project by the Rhode Island Department of Administration, which aims to modernize its HR and finance system. A report from 2017 indicated that Rhode Island would need 136 full-time attorneys for effective representation. Currently, attorneys face average caseloads of around 200 felony cases, compared to the American Bar Association's limit of 150. The situation for misdemeanor cases is similarly challenging, with an average of 700 cases for public defenders in 2024. Despite these challenges, Toro expressed some optimism. He believes hiring just two additional attorneys could significantly lower caseloads for current staff. However, funding for these positions was excluded from Governor Dan McKee's budget, which is constrained by a $223 million deficit. ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown highlighted the difficulties faced by public defenders. He underscored the importance of addressing these issues for a fair criminal justice system. Toro remains hopeful that the General Assembly will consider funding for additional hires. He emphasized that providing legal counsel to those unable to afford private lawyers is essential for ensuring fairness in the justice system.