Winnebago County residents share experience on public defense in Illinois

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Lawmakers say Illinois has not significantly changed its public defense structure since 1949.

The community hopes to change that to bring liberty and justice for all awaiting a trial.

At least five people shared their first-hand accounts with public defenders Thursday with the hope Winnebago County and the state takes better action to fix what some say is a crisis in our courts.

‘King Moosa’ was involved in a serious criminal case and had a constitutional right to a public defender, but he says he felt helpless with his representation. Moosa shared his story Thursday night with dozens of others hoping for change

“My public defender, years later, even admitted that she wasn‘t even capable to represent me,” he says.

“This is an opportunity for us to deal with some structural issues that will actually make justice more accessible to those who need it the most,” says New Zion Baptist Church Pastor K. Edward Copeland.

State Rep. Dave Vella says public defenders are understaffed and overloaded with cases. He says the main Winnebago County public defender was tied up in court all day Thursday because of this.

“We don’t have swift justice for either the victims or for the defendants, and it costs a lot more money for the taxpayers,” says Vella.

That’s why Vella introduced the Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation, or FAIR Act, which in part will create an office of the state public defender to assess client needs, staffing and resources statewide.

“Every case these are human lives we‘re talking about,” says ’King Moosa’.

State Sen. Dave Syverson says they’ve spent more on defense-level funding at the Winnebago county level than they’ve ever had before.

“When there are delays in trials, which is very frustrating. It’s usually delays that are caused by the defense delaying things,” says Syverson.

One person who has been in the Winnebago County jail for five years still waits for his trial. He spoke to the room tonight via phone call.

It’s not just criminal cases people also shared stories about family cases. One person shared they are in a battle with DCFS.

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