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Public Defender Crisis in Multnomah County Leaves Defendants and Victims Waiting for Justice

Portland Ore. (KPTV) – The ongoing public defender crisis in Multnomah County has left defendants without legal representation and victims anxiously waiting for justice. This dire situation has persisted for over a year, causing significant delays and frustrations in the criminal justice system.

Image Source: KPTV

Emily McKnight is just one of many individuals who find themselves caught in the grip of this crisis, desperately waiting for a public defender to be assigned to her case. McKnight’s son’s Hyundai Elantra was stolen from their home on Southeast 51st Avenue in the early morning of November 1.

According to the Portland police, the stolen car was later spotted near Northeast 102 and Halsey Street on the same day, but the driver, identified as 27-year-old Hannah Stiner, attempted to flee from the officers. The police pursued the car, eventually using spike strips and a pit maneuver to bring it to a halt.

“It had been involved in a police chase where they had to employ spike strips,” McKnight recounted. “Finally, with a pit maneuver, they were able to apprehend the suspect.”

Drugs and Paraphernalia Found in Stolen Vehicle

During the arrest, law enforcement officers discovered drugs and drug paraphernalia inside the stolen Hyundai. The vehicle itself sustained damage during the stop. Stiner was promptly arrested and charged with the related offenses.

However, the Portland Police Bureau revealed that Stiner was subsequently released, only to be arrested again over the weekend on suspicion of committing similar crimes. Shockingly, she was released once more, highlighting the alarming lack of accountability in the system.

Frustrations Mount as Cases Remain Unassigned

McKnight’s frustration with the Multnomah County court system and the severe shortage of public defenders is palpable. She recently attended a court session via livestream, hoping to see Stiner assigned legal counsel for her case. However, McKnight was disheartened to witness numerous felony cases from 2022 that still hadn’t been assigned a defender.

“I was in agony, just watching because there were felony case after felony cases,” McKnight shared. “I waited for our case to arrive, but there were no public defenders available.”

District Attorney Mike Schimidt regularly releases a list of cases dismissed by the court, further exacerbating the crisis. In the previous week, 14 cases were dismissed, and in the preceding week, that number rose to 26.

DA Schmidt’s Concern for Public Safety

In response to the worsening crisis, District Attorney Schmidt expressed grave concern for the victims awaiting justice and the lack of accountability for defendants.

“For nearly every defendant without counsel, there are one or more victims awaiting justice. Over a year into this crisis, many are still waiting for their day in court, while others have seen their cases dismissed altogether. This sends a message to crime victims in our community that justice is unavailable and their harm will go unaddressed. It also sends a message to individuals who have committed crimes that there is no accountability, while burning through scarce police and prosecutor resources. Every day that this crisis persists presents an urgent and continuing threat to public safety,”

Recurring Crimes and Personal Impact

The McKnight family has experienced the devastating consequences of this crisis firsthand. Just weeks after their car was stolen, their second vehicle was broken into. This incident held even greater significance as their son Parker, who is autistic, relies on the car’s specific setup to accommodate his needs.

“Whenever I’ve tried to drive any other car for more than an hour or two, my back starts hurting,” shared Parker.

Stiner is scheduled to appear in court on February 8, 2024, in the hopes that a public defender will finally be assigned to her case. If so, her arraignment will follow on February 29.

Source: KPTV

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