The Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice has announced a public listening session to address the state’s ongoing public defense crisis, scheduled for May 1. The event aims to gather community input and spotlight policy solutions for improving legal representation for those awaiting trial across Illinois.

Date & Time: Thursday, May 1st, 2024 from 6-7:30pm
Location: Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, 202 S Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 
Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLwLRMkiS7CGNY3WWjwJlc9K0_nFfvXbwuaVz7I-0VzVqs7Q/viewform

Illinois is one of only seven states lacking statewide oversight of public defense, a structure that has remained largely unchanged since 1949. Advocates warn that chronic underfunding and excessive caseloads for public defenders have created a civil rights emergency, particularly impacting rural, Black, and Brown communities who are most likely to rely on public defenders. In every county, prosecutors receive more funding than public defenders, exacerbating disparities in legal representation1.

At the upcoming session, community members are invited to share their personal experiences with the public defense system. Policy experts will also discuss the proposed FAIR Act, which would establish a statewide office of public defense, aiming to address systemic inequities and improve the quality of representation for defendants across Illinois.

Dinner will be provided for attendees, underscoring organizers’ commitment to making the event accessible and inclusive.