The state's Public Defender Services announced today the development of a new Public Defender Corporation (PDC). The PDC, located in Monongalia Co., will become the 20th PDC statewide, serving the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Its Board of Directors and staff, led by Michael D. Simms, Esq., will provide timely, cost-effective legal representation to individuals in criminal proceedings, as well as treatment services.
“I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Justice as the Chairperson of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Public Defender Corporation," Simms said. “I have dedicated my practice of nearly sixteen years to criminal defense work in West Virginia and understand the unique and difficult conditions that people with low incomes face when going through the criminal justice system. One thing is for certain – money should never be a barrier to receiving high-quality, professional legal representation."
Services provided by PDCs extend beyond legal representation, however. According to Public Defender Services (PDS) Executive Director Dana Eddy, they provide a platform from which to launch programs that address the underlying causes of a person's intersection with the criminal justice system, with the goal to reduce the risk of relapse and recidivism. While treatment programs may vary, they can include counseling, peer support, and job-specific training.
The Monongalia Co. PDC will also have the unique opportunity to partner with the state's only law school, West Virginia University School of Law, to provide mentorship and learning opportunities to its young lawyers-to-be, as well as offer competitive pay and benefits to those wishing to enter the field of public defense upon graduation. This collaboration will bolster individuals' knowledge by allowing them to experience firsthand the legal work environment and courtroom proceedings, which Simms believes is the best way for new lawyers to effectively transition into the real-world practice of law.
Once the Monongalia Co. PDC becomes operational, its employees will have the support of the PDC Research Center. The Center, which provides administrative support to all PDCs, employs a criminal justice specialist with which PDCs can consult on mitigation efforts and treatment plans, and provides a forum for PDCs across the state to discuss their individual needs, challenges, and/or resolutions with one another.
The goal of all PDCs for their clients is the eventual, meaningful reentry into the community, shared PDS Executive Director Eddy. The Monongalia Co. PDC, with the PDC Research Center's support, will work to advance that mission, as well as provide a voice for the local criminal defense bar in support of programs within the community that will better serve the needs of clients who face unemployment, substance use issues, or other barriers to reentry into the community.
“I am indebted to Governor Justice and his administration for their support of our agency's efforts to ensure the adequate funding of indigent defense and to ensure that the state of West Virginia is meeting its constitutional obligations in the most meaningful manner," Eddy continued.
About Public Defender Corporations
Public Defender Corporations (PDC) are funded by the state's Public Defender Services (PDS) and operate as non-profit corporations with a board of directors, whose chairperson is appointed by the governor. The PDCs provide legal representation in indigent cases in designated judicial circuits within West Virginia. Including the Monongalia Co. PDC, the PDS funds the operations of nineteen PDCs in 20 of the state's 31 judicial circuits.
The PDCs currently employ 141 attorneys and 105 support employees. The Monongalia Co. PDC will employee seven to nine attorneys and six to eight support staff, increasing that number. Support staff may include legal secretaries, paralegals, investigators, social workers, and recovery coaches.
During Fiscal Year 2019, the nineteen PDCs resolved 35,696 cases, for an average cost of $531.79 per case.
###