Audit: Public defender office owed millions, not collecting

AMY BETH HANSON

Associated Press

HELENA — A financial audit of the Office of the State Public Defender found the agency doesn’t know how much money it is owed by criminal defendants and that the office is not trying to collect the money while facing a $3.5 million budget shortfall.

The November audit said the defender’s office estimates it was owed $3.95 million in court-ordered fees as of June 30, but has written off $2.8 million as uncollectible.

“These unpaid assessments represent money due to the office that could be used to fund a portion of the office’s operations instead...