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Overview


Mission Statement

The New York State Commission on the Future of Indigent Defense Services was charged with performing a comprehensive examination of the State's criminal indigent defense system and developing a blueprint for reform. Chaired by Judge Burton Roberts and Professor William Hellerstein, the Commission examined:

  • the funding of indigent defense services
  • the effectiveness of the various types of criminal defense systems in use throughout the State
  • the quality of the representation afforded indigent criminal defendants, and the adequacy of the training received by the attorneys who deliver these services
  • the availability and quality of ancillary resources such as investigative and interpretive services
The Commission issued its final report to the Chief Judge in June, 2006.