Should Public Defenders Get More Money If They Win Their Case?

[Gizmo j]

As of now public defenders get the same amount of money whether they win the case or not, this means they dont even need to put in effort to represent their client.

This is why they're sometimes considered "Public Pretenders".

 

[The Merg]

I would disagree about the “Public Pretenders” label. In watching in court, I find that the Public Defenders are the ones that are sometimes the most staunch in defending their clients. When it comes to taking pleas, I’ve seen that they will generally want to try to go trial before taking a plea.

- Merg

 

[Moonbeam]

As a person with no field of expertise, I would not be one to ask. My guess, worthless thought it may be, is that there are probably good and bad Public Defenders, some of whom would be just as bad with more money and just as good with even less, while money might encourage better performance in some others. Hopefully I covered all the options.

 

[ivwshane]

The issue is that there aren’t enough of them and that their case load is too large to focus on any one client.

More money wouldn’t fix that unless it attracted more lawyers.

 

[shortylickens]

the problem is not motivation.
the problem is they are overworked and understaffed. And thats a systemic problem which will never be fixed.

 

[brycejones]

Chance the OP will address any points raised in this thread?

 

[trenchfoot]

As of now public defenders get the same amount of money whether they win the case or not, this means they dont even need to put in effort to represent their client.

This is why they're sometimes considered "Public Pretenders".

A possible double edged sword if they get bonuses for wins. What would happen should they lose a case? All things being fair, if you get rewarded for wins, should you then get penalized for losing?

Although a case of both positive and negative reinforcement would then be in play, doubly motivating the attorney to win their cases, but I really don't think they'd like to risk instituting that sort of policy.

 

[DisarmedDespot]

Chance the OP will address any points raised in this thread?

Same as the last dozen threads of his — zero.