Public Defender Services coming to Mon County

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – State officials have announce the creation of Public Defender Corporation (PDC) in Mon County. The organization will be the 20th PDC in the state serving the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. Michael D. Simms, Esq., has been named as the leader of the Public Defender Corporation.

“I am honored to have been appointed by Governor Justice as the Chairperson of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Public Defender Corporation,” Simms said. “I have dedicated my practice of nearly sixteen years to criminal defense work in West Virginia and understand the unique and difficult conditions that people with low incomes face when going through the criminal justice system. One thing is for certain – money should never be a barrier to receiving high-quality, professional legal representation.”

According to Public Defender Services (PDS) executive director Dana Eddy, their mission is to address underlying causes of why people end up in the legal system. The ultimate goal is to stop relapse, recidivism and help people into job-specific training programs.

The Monongalia Co. PDC will also establish a partnership with the WVU College of Law to provide learning opportunities for law school students. The partnership could lead to employment as a public defender following graduation.

The PDC will also provide a voice for the local criminal defense bar in support of programs within the community that serve clients dealing with unemployment, substance use issues, or other barriers to being a productive member of the community.

“I am indebted to Governor Justice and his administration for their support of our agency’s efforts to ensure the adequate funding of indigent defense and to ensure that the state of West Virginia is meeting its constitutional obligations in the most meaningful manner,” Eddy said.

The Mon County PDC will employ seven to nine attorneys and six to eight support staff. Support staff may include legal secretaries, paralegals, investigators, social workers, and recovery coaches.

During Fiscal Year 2019, the nineteen PDCs resolved 35,696 cases, for an average cost of $531.79 per case.