Deschutes Defenders, a nonprofit public defense organization serving Deschutes County and surrounding areas, is sounding the alarm over proposed state-level funding cuts that threaten to destabilize constitutionally mandated legal representation in Central Oregon.
Deschutes Defenders, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and its prior iteration has been serving Central Oregon since 1981, providing legal representation in criminal, juvenile, dependency, and civil commitment cases. The organization also staffs specialty courts including Mental Health Court, Veteran’s Intervention Strategy, and the Emerging Adult Program. With 33 full-time employees — including attorneys, investigators, legal assistants, and a social worker — Deschutes Defenders is deeply rooted in the community and committed to client-focused, constitutionally grounded advocacy.
On September 15, 2025, the organization was notified that under the Oregon Public Defense Commission’s (OPDC) proposed contract, it would be forced to eliminate two attorney positions and one legal staff role — a 9% reduction in personnel.
“This proposal not only undermines our ability to provide ethical workloads and supervision, but it also jeopardizes the stability we’ve worked hard to build,” said Joel Wirtz, executive director for Deschutes Defenders. “We’re facing another public defense crisis.”
In early 2024, Deschutes Defenders lost multiple attorneys amid a statewide public defense crisis. The organization responded with a nationwide search, hiring attorneys from California, Kentucky, Iowa, and Wisconsin. These hires were given assurances of manageable caseloads and strong supervision — conditions now at risk under the proposed contract.
The organization also challenges the accuracy of caseload projections for Deschutes County in the next two years, citing a failure to account for post-COVID turnover rates, realistic recruitment timelines, and a recent surge in dependency filings and civil commitment hearings.
“If these projections stand, we will not have enough attorneys to meet the county’s legal representation needs in the next two years,” Director Wirtz added. “The fallback — using private attorneys paid hourly — is less cost-effective and undermines the long-term sustainability of nonprofit public defense in Deschutes County.”
Deschutes Defenders is urging state leadership in Salem to reconsider the proposed contract and maintain current funding levels for attorney positions. This, they argue, is the most cost-effective and constitutionally sound path forward.
“We’re building a future for public defense that is stable, ethical, and community-centered,” Wirtz said. “We ask that Oregon’s leaders join us in protecting that future.”
