2017-2018 Statistics

The Office of the State Public Defender has 92 authorized positions (82 - Office of the State Public Defender, 10 - Guardian ad Litem). The agency employs 55 attorneys (trial, GAL, and appellate), 24 legal assistants and legal support specialists, 8 administration employees, and 5 investigators. In addition, the agency utilizes 25 PD independent contractors and 25 GAL independent contractors. 

The total appropriation for the Office of the State Public Defender for the 17-18 biennium is $27,057,947 (2017-2018 Biennium Budget Request). The Public Defender budget is comprised of 85% from state general funds and 15% from county augmenting revenues. The GAL Program is reimbursed by participating counties not less than 25% of agreed program fees, and not less than 25% of administrative costs, prorated by program funds expended in each county and one hundred percent of excess rate fees. 

The Public Defender monitors caseloads that are recorded by an in-house case-weighted database system. The total FY17 caseload was 109.7% of maximum caseloads and FY18 caseload was 103.5% of maximum caseloads, per the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals (1973)(NAC) caseload maximum recommendations. In FY17, the total Public Defender trial caseload was 15,975 cases, FY18 14,934 cases with an additional 131 appeals handled in the Wyoming Supreme Court in FY17 and FY18. In FY17, the total PD caseload maximum increased to 109% up from 102% in FY16. In FY17 8 offices (Hot Springs/Washakie County, Campbell County, Converse/Goshen/Platte/Niobrara County, Albany, Laramie County, Natrona County, Sweetwater County, and Weston/Crook County) exceeded caseload maximums (over 100%) with 2 offices (Sheridan/Johnson County and Uinta/Lincoln) at 100%. In FY18 8 offices (Hot Springs/Washakie County, Campbell County, Converse/Goshen/Platte/Niobrara County, Albany, Laramie County, Natrona County, Sweetwater County, and Weston/Crook County) exceeded caseload maximums (over 100%).

In FY17, the GAL Program provided services to 2,877 children and FY18, the GAL Program provided services to 3,013 children.