4 ms·

> but in the UK these people would have been unable to get a public defender Absolutely not the case. If one cannot afford a solicitor one will be appointed.

• LatteLazy 5y ago
  For a crown court, anyone with an adjusted household income over £22345 is expected to pay in part. Anyone with a household income (unadjusted) over £37500 gets no help. You can also be caught if you have more than about 30k in assets (including equity in your home so anyone who owns in the southeast is screwed). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/criminal-legal-aid-means-testing https://www.gov.uk/guidance/criminal-legal-aid-means-testing I only discovered this 2y ago when I was arrested. My solicitor in the police station explained he was free but only on that day. I'd have to pay in advance if the police choose to prosecute (they didn't, I was released without charge). A lot of people don't realise how expensive it is to be innocent in the UK sadly.
  • robinjfisher 5y ago
    Quite - the criminal justice system is woefully underfunded and COVID has only exacerbated the problem. The means testing leaves many people facing no choice but to plead guilty or risk bankruptcy. This book is a chilling insight into the state of criminal justice: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Barrister-Stories-Law-Broken/dp/1509841105 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Barrister-Stories-Law-Broken...
  • iudqnolq 5y ago
    The only mitigating factor is that unlike the US the UK also massively underfunds prosecutions https://thesecretbarrister.com/ https://thesecretbarrister.com/
    • LatteLazy 5y ago
      One thing I've never understood about the US is why both sides aren't funded equally. That seems a very core part of a fair trial being "fair" imho.
      • iudqnolq 5y ago
        Agree!