Praises pay scale change for public defenders

Vox Pop

In Wisconsin, we have a criminal justice system that, despite its many flaws, fundamentally works well together especially at the broader policy and funding level. In 2019, the State Public Defender’s Office joined with the prosecutors, courts, and the Department of Justice to suggest a comprehensive funding plan to the Legislature. It was offered on the theory that the work we do is so interrelated that looking at funding for the system should be done comprehensively. By and large, the effort was successful in putting together a well-balanced and thoughtful approach in working with policymakers at the state level.

One issue included in that joint request was meritbased pay increases for prosecutors and public defenders. Historically, funding for that item has varied but always been equal between the two groups. The 2019 budget was the first time that funding was provided in different amounts with public defenders receiving less than their prosecutor counterparts.

Parity has been very important for the criminal justice system because neither side should be the training ground for the other. The concern that the disparity would impact retention was realized and felt throughout Wisconsin. When the SPD loses staff, the justice system is negatively impacted. Recognizing the imbalance that created in the system, many legislators offered to work on separate legislation outside of the budget to address the funding disparity. But two legislators in particular deserve recognition for their work on this bill - Senator Jerry Petrowski and Representative Amy Loudenbeck.

Senator Petrowski introduced a bill in 2019 that passed unanimously but didn’t get a final vote when the pandemic made it impossible for the Senate to meet. Undeterred, he reintroduced the bill this session and within 2 weeks guided the bill from introduction to committee hearings and votes in both houses of the Legislature.

We are tremendously grateful to Senator Petrowski for his support. This will allow the State Public Defender’s office to ensure that the Constitutional rights of defendants are protected and that the criminal legal system isn’t brought to a standstill due to lack of counsel.

— Kelli Thompson, Wisconsin State Public Defender