Justice and Public Safety Public Advocacy
Actual FY 2024Actual FY 2025Revised FY 2026Recommended FY 2027Recommended FY 2028
SOURCE OF FUNDS General Fund
Regular Appropriation82,432,90096,178,70098,448,50093,413,30095,240,300
State Salary and Compensation Allocation2,592,90014,20021,500\n(2,954,100)
Budget Reduction-General Fund
Total General Fund85,025,80096,192,90095,515,90093,413,30095,240,300
Restricted Funds
Balance Forward1,888,0762,226,8422,225,1002,225,1002,171,400
Current Receipts4,849,8664,760,6504,511,4004,511,4004,511,400
Total Restricted Funds6,737,9426,987,4936,736,5006,736,5006,682,800
Federal Fund
Balance Forward(141,011)(252,831)(50,300)
Current Receipts2,148,7982,996,3042,387,5002,392,4002,392,400
Total Federal Fund2,007,7882,743,4722,337,2002,392,4002,392,400
TOTAL SOURCE OF FUNDS93,771,530105,923,865104,589,600102,542,200104,315,500
EXPENDITURES BY CLASS
Personnel Costs81,647,90290,782,15089,505,80087,108,00088,992,600
Operating Expenses10,149,21812,944,56112,858,50013,262,60013,262,600
Grants Loans Benefits40014,103200200200
Capital Outlay8,229
TOTAL EXPENDITURES91,797,519103,749,043102,364,500100,370,800102,255,400
EXPENDITURES BY FUND SOURCE
General Fund85,025,80096,192,90095,515,90093,413,30095,240,300
Restricted Funds4,511,1004,762,3754,511,4004,565,1004,622,700
Federal Fund2,260,6192,793,7692,337,2002,392,4002,392,400
TOTAL EXPENDITURES91,797,519103,749,043102,364,500100,370,800102,255,400
EXPENDITURES BY UNIT
Office of the Public Advocate2,150,0003,319,5003,375,7003,293,8003,344,500
Defense Services83,305,25692,809,63291,267,90089,414,30091,133,300
Conflict Services343,184765,8431,039,8001,008,6001,032,400
Law Operations2,401,2092,990,7003,060,9002,983,1003,047,800
Protection and Advocacy3,597,8713,863,3693,620,2003,671,0003,697,400
TOTAL EXPENDITURES91,797,519103,749,043102,364,500100,370,800102,255,400
The United States and Kentucky Constitutions guarantee all Americans the right to the assistance of counsel when charged with a crime. These provisions also require that individuals who cannot afford an attorney, and who face potential loss of liberty, be provided with an attorney by the state. The Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) created under KRS Chapter 31, fulfills this mandate by representing indigent persons accused of crimes or facing involuntary hospitalization for a mental illness or condition. Kentucky's public defender services are delivered through a statewide system of DPA offices staffed by full-time employed public defenders and supplemented by private attorneys for cases that cannot be handled by DPA attorneys, usually due to conflicts of interest. As of July 1, 2024, DPA assumed responsibility for defender services in all 120 Kentucky counties, following the enactment of 2023 House Bill 568, which merged the Louisville-Jefferson County Public Defender Office into the Department, completing the unification of the statewide public defender system in Kentucky. The Department, under the direction of the Public Advocate, is attached to the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for administrative purposes.
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