What is your opinion on Public Defenders?

I am an officer and it seems that public defenders do not like people with badges. By the same token many of colleagues do not like them either. My father is also an officer and he states that public defender's are part of the criminal justice system so technically they are not the "enemy". Colleagues have said things like "They let go the same people we lock up, they are the lowest form of life on earth", "They are a bunch of liars", and "In reality they don't care if the people they represent go down because they are getting paid anyways if the person goes to jail they'll still see a paycheck". Opinions please.

What is your opinion on Public Defenders?
They are just part of the justice system.


Usually they are over worked and over exended and cannot provide the defense that a paid criminal defense attorney would. Some of them try to make a name for themselves by trying to act tough in court, but it is an act.


Most PD's usually try to get the defendant to plead out so they can lessen their case load. And most of them don't like the defendant any more than we do, they are just doing the job that the court appointed them to do.


Sometimes the people we arrest are going to get back out on the street. It is probably the most frustrating part of the job. Don't take it personally, just do your job.
Reply:the cycle of life. one locks up the other releases.
Reply:Give them a break; they are just doing their job, in scrutinizing police officers' testimony.





They do care about zealously representing their clients; they take pride in their victories, and agonize in their defeats.





Do people always like officers, especially when they are hiding behind the roadside billboard, eating donuts, waiting for unwary speeders?





As you can see, every job has its stereotypes; most of them are generally untrue.
Reply:they are all buddy, buddy with the city prosecutor's office no wonder half the time they can't win
Reply:I think that public defenders don't try as hard as they can to prove their client's innocence. They will get paid no matter if they win or lose the case. My father was sent to prison for murder and I went to his trial. I am a fan of all the crime shows: Forensic Files, Cold Case Files and Body of Evidence and as I watch them I see things that my Dad's public defender could've done to help his cause, but unfortunately didn't. My Dad didn't have a good trial because his public defender didn't give a damn. I don't know how anyone on the jury could've slept at night turning in a guilty verdict on such little evidence. You hear it on the news now and then that people that were falsely sent to prison are released years later. By then it's too late, they've been branded murderers and rapists... that will stay with them the rest of their lives. The criminal system is just like anything else we try to do in today's society, sometimes it works and sometimes it fails. It's a never ending saga. So, in answer to your question, I think Public Defenders suck !!
Reply:They are assigned many cases at one time, so they can't devote too much time to any one case, so don't expect much except the bare minimum of representation. They are not going to waste too much time in building a good defense for you. If you are in serious trouble, get yourself a REAL lawyer.
Reply:Most Public Defenders are struggling lawyers trying to make ends meet by taking what they can get from the public defender pool. The courts pay for the public defenders.





In my opinion, most public defenders know how to do there job, they just really aren't very good at it. That is why they are public defenders. They can't get paying clients. Or, at least , not enough paying clients.





They know the law. They are just not very good at litigating.
Reply:Every job has it's share of ppl who are diffrent, if thry weren't in ur job now, believe me they would be in any job u took for any profession, sadly they r in a position that ruins ppl's lives.
Reply:they are lawyers just like the others.they have so many cases they do not have the time to devote to just one case. this means you get very poor representation. they are called cop out lawyers in jail
Reply:You as a police officer should know that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Everyone is entitled to an attorney. That is the law, and you as a police officer should respect the rules of justice. We as police officers cannot be considered the judge, jury, and executioner. Everyone has the right to council, the right to a speedy trial, and a right to tell there side of the story. As far as public defenders go, I really don't care for the way they handle business. But the law is the law is the law......................
Reply:Public Defenders are necessary, no matter how much PC you may have, a person is still innocent until proven guilty. They have a right to a defense as much as someone with ten times the money. I have a "sour respect" for public defenders. It is true, they make our lives harder. WE know the guys we put in jail belong there.





But the job their do embodies the basic rights guaranteed someone by the Constitution of the United States, and in that regard, they are the true defenders of freedom. Moreso than us in someways.





I lament, and respect them for what they do.