criminal justice system

April 28, 2017 - 5:08am
After a $2 million settlement was awarded to five New York counties, Onondaga County still struggles to meet demands of the criminal justice system.

The violation of the constitution has come at a price for New York state. In 2007 a lawsuit, Hurrell-Harring v. New York, was brought against five New York counties: Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Suffolk and Washington.

The lawsuit sought to ensure that a lawyer represents every poor criminal defendant at their initial court appearance and that lawyers are adequately prepared to contest the charges being brought, to reduce the caseloads of public defense attorneys and to ensure criminal defendants received proper defense.