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Criminal Law
- VA Drug Counselors May Help Those Freed Under Fair Sentencing Act
- Cheers and Fears Abound as Virginia Inmates Go Free
- Virginia Drug Charges Put Your Life on Hold: Who Can Help?
- “Spice” May Soon be Illegal in Virginia, Nationwide
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- Does Virginia Law Require Ignition Locks for First Time DUI Offenders?...
Posted on 2/20/2012 - Multiple Drug Charges Pending for Norfolk Drug Ring Members...
Posted on 1/27/2012 - Man Arrested on Virginia Beach Drug Charges...
Posted on 12/13/2011 - Norfolk Police Officer Arrested on Drug Charges in Norfolk...
Posted on 12/12/2011 - Is the Virginia Criminal Defense System in Trouble?...
Posted on 11/18/2011 - ICP Juggalos in Virginia- They May Be "Insane" But Are They a Gang?...
Posted on 11/17/2011 - Police Probe Leads to Multiple Drug Arrests in Bedford County...
Posted on 11/6/2011 - Many Convicted of Crimes Involving Crack Cocaine Released in Virginia...
Posted on 11/4/2011 - 10 Large Scale Drug Rings Broken up in Hampton Roads...
Posted on 10/29/2011 - North Carolina Man Breaks Cycle of Prison and Drugs...
Posted on 10/28/2011
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Is the Virginia Criminal Defense System in Trouble?
Posted on Nov 18, 2011
Across Virginia, the criminal justice system is suffering from budget cutbacks. From circuit judges to public defenders, civil servants are losing their jobs or taking on more work than they can handle.
Virginia Criminal Justice System Job Losses Affect Many
In the past five months, five Norfolk prosecutors have lost their jobs. In addition, support positions have been eliminated, as has funding for training and equipment. When losses like this occur, it's not only the laid off employees who suffer. The layoffs have meant longer wait times in jail for those accused of a crime. Though Virginia has a speedy-trial law that mandates that accused criminals wait not more than five months in jail or nine months on bail, many defendants are maxing out their time in jail, waiting for a trial that has been postponed due to heavy case loads.
Public Defenders are Not Spared
Though it is true that no public defenders in Virginia have lost their jobs due to the economic down-turn, they are experiencing serious growing pains. Their case loads are large, and there is no sign that they will decrease. This leaves public defenders overworked, underpaid, and at times, unable to properly defend the clients they have been assigned to.
"If you don't have enough lawyers to handle the cases, it leaves them open to speedy-trial challenges and ineffective assistance of counsel," stated Ed Burnette, a current vice-president at the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.
The Virginia Beach criminal defense attorneys at Tavss Fletcher are very concerned that the lack of good court appointed legal aid will have a disastrous effect on those accused of a crime in Virginia. We hope that the state takes a good hard look at how budget restrictions are impacting accused criminals' right to a fair trial and competent legal representation.
Read More About Is the Virginia Criminal Defense System in Trouble?...
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