Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Utah County's public defenders say they're being stretched thin because of rapid growth in the county.
The attorneys represent people charged with felonies in the county who can't afford an attorney.
Last year, three new attorneys were hired, bringing the total to 12.
Tom Means, director of the Utah County Public Defender Association, says he already needs three new positions to handle the case load his office is facing this year.
Means says his office is on pace to have about 2,000 assigned cases this year. That's an increase of more than 1,800 cases from the previous year.
------
Information from: The Daily Herald
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
