Install
Quality Defense Act of 2025
A bill to incentivize States and localities to improve access to justice, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- Committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became law
Summary
Providing a Quality Defense Act of 2025 or the Quality Defense Act of 2025
This bill establishes grant programs and other resources to support the delivery of public defense services.
Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to award grants to state and local governments, tribal organizations, public defender's offices, and assigned counsel programs for public defense. In particular, DOJ may award a grant for (1) developing, implementing, and updating a process for collecting certain data regarding public defense attorneys and panel attorneys; or (2) hiring additional public defense attorneys and for other activities (e.g., increasing compensation or establishing a loan assistance program for public defenders).
Additionally, DOJ must award grants to eligible entities (e.g., certain tax-exempt organizations and states) to provide a comprehensive educational program to public defenders and panel attorneys that offers ongoing training, support, and programming.
The bill directs the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office for Access to Justice to conduct certain studies related to public defender and panel attorney caseloads and compensation.
The bill also authorizes DOJ to provide a state with an increase in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program funds in order to collect and submit certain data related to the legal representation of defendants in criminal cases.
Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.
Actions
- Mar 25, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Mar 25, 2025 Introduced in Senate
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