FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, August 9, 2013

Albany County Public Defender Receives State Grant Funding for Counsel at First Appearance Project
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today announced Albany County has been awarded state funds for Counsel at First Appearance Project. The three-year grant of $656,000 has been awarded by the NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services (ILS), the state agency charged with the oversight of the administration of County Law Article 18-B, the law requiring counties to provide counsel to people who cannot afford to hire an attorney. The funds will be utilized by the Albany County Public Defenders office and the Alternate Public Defenders office, both of which provide representation to residents who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. This is good news for Albany County, said County Executive McCoy. The state recognized that if we are to improve the quality of these mandated services, we need the support to make sure we can offer legal counsel to those who really need it. The fiscal challenges we face are significant and I thank the state for doing its part in helping us pay for this. The statewide grant program helps the counties implement improvements in the delivery of legal services at a defendants first appearance before a judge or arraignment. Albany County is one of 25 counties awarded funding. The agency noted that even though some counties have made progress in providing counsel at first appearance, significant challenges persist. People who require indigent legal defense services continue to be arraigned without counsel. The factors cited include excessive caseloads, a lack of funding and logistical challenges which ILS says can results in unnecessary or excessive bail being set and keeping people of limited financial means in jail awaiting trial.

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Mary Rozak Director of Communications Office of the Albany County Executive 112 State Street, Room 825 Albany, NY 12207 tel 518.447.7040 ext. 7218 fax 518.447.5589 mary.rozak@albanycounty.com www.albanycounty.com