MIDC Executive Director Delivers Progress Report

Jonathan Sacks, the Executive Director of the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, was part of a recent breakout session at a symposium at the University of Michigan Law School on February 19-20 titled, “Innocent Until Proven Poor, Fighting the Criminalization of Poverty,” sponsored by the Michigan Journal of Race and Law.

Frank Weir of the Legal News reported on the session.  Sacks gave an overview of the recent history of indigent defense in Michigan and the work of the Commission:

“Our permanent commission seeks to have the state meet its Sixth Amendment obligations,” Sacks said.  He noted that the commission has begun to address the three concerns by conducting research to see how big the problem is; develop minimum standards so all counties have the same understanding of what is required for adequate indigent defense; and “the state then needs to step in and start funding county compliance plans with the minimum standards.”

Read the entire article at the Legal News.