PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Oct. 10, 2023
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer
Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us | 605.773.2031
Indigent Legal Services Task Force Issues Final Report
PIERRE, S.D.— The Indigent Legal Services Task Force created by HB 1064 during the 2023 South Dakota Legislative Session has issued its Final Report and Recommendations to the Governor, Chief Justice and South Dakota Legislature.
The Task Force is making three recommendations in the final report:
- Statutorily create a statewide indigent defense commission and state public defender office.
- Evaluate alternatives for funding and cost-containment in indigent defense.
- Contract with Sixth Amendment Center to perform a thorough review of representative counties to gather further information to inform the work of the proposed commission.
“An effective indigent defense delivery system is paramount to ensure the rights of South Dakota citizens are protected and to ensure an efficient operation of the judicial system,” the Indigent Legal Services Task Force stated. “These recommendations are intended as a starting point in the evolution of a system that requires strategic efforts to ensure those rights protected by our state and federal constitutions are vigilantly guarded.”
The final report can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3ZO786i. For more information, contact Alisa Bousa, Unified Judicial System public information officer, at 605-773-2031 or alisa.bousa@ujs.state.sd.us.
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About South Dakota Courts: The Unified Judicial System (UJS) consists of the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts and State Court Administrator’s Office. The Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and final decision maker on South Dakota law. The Circuit Courts are the state’s trial courts where criminal proceedings and civil litigation are handled. The State Court Administrator’s Office provides centralized administrative assistance and support services for the South Dakota judiciary. Learn more at https://ujs.sd.gov.