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Justice Breaking Point

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Take Action | State Bar Memos | News Articles​ | State Bar Articles​

​​Overworked and u​nderstaffed, Wisconsin's criminal justice system is facing a breaking point that has been long in the making. Elected District Attorney vacancies are now occurring with alarming frequency, and District Attorney offices across the state are experiencing staff shortages as salaries have not kept pace with the employment market. The same issues are plaguing defenders, with State Public Defender Kelli Thompson indicating her agency is down 20% of attorney employees, particularly in rural counties wh​ere the SPD struggles to fill vacancies. Legislators must increase funding for the criminal justice system in the upcoming biennial budget.​


State Bar Memos​ and Statements

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News ​Articles

  
  
  
6/13Opinion: It's not too late to achieve equal access to justiceThe Cap Times
6/06Wage increases just part of the solution to public defender ‘crisis’WMTV - NBC 15
5/18Our View: A Step Toward a More Just SystemEau Claire Leader Telegram
5/16Prosecutor pay raises added to Wisconsin budget proposal by lawmakersThe Cap Times
5/16Wisconsin lawmakers propose raises for public defenders, prosecutorsCh. 3000 (AP Story)
5/16Lawmakers vote to increase pay for district attorneys and public defenders in budgetJournal Sentinel
5/16Wisconsin's budget committee approves higher pay for prosecutors, defense attorneysWUWM 89.7 FM (NPR)
5/16Prosecutors, public defenders would receive raises under measure passed by Legislature's budget panelWisconsin Public Radio
5/16Pay Hike for Employees of Wisconsin’s Court SystemWSAU – 95.1FM; WIXX 101
5/16Public defenders and prosecutors in Wisconsin are one step closer to seeing a bump in paySpectrum 1 News

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S​​tate​ Bar ​Articles

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