Hinds County will temporarily increase salaries for its public defenders through the end of the year, using leftover funds from a federal pandemic relief program. The roughly $261,000 boost aims to narrow the pay gap between public defenders and prosecutors for six months, but falls short of the $1 million advocates say is needed for long-term equity, according to county officials.
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the measure last week after years of requests for additional funding. The move follows a campaign led by the advocacy group Defend Mississippi, which argued that higher pay would reduce case backlogs and decrease jail costs by keeping defendants out of detention while their cases are processed.
Public defenders in the county currently earn about half of what their district attorney counterparts make, despite handling similar caseloads. Gail Wright Lowery, the county’s head public defender, told the board that increased funding was essential to fulfill constitutional obligations and ensure fair representation for those unable to afford private attorneys.
County officials said they lacked the necessary funds within the existing budget but identified leftover money from a water tower project at the new jail as a temporary solution. County administrator Lynn Seals, who was appointed earlier this year, described the move as a “no-brainer” given her previous experience managing federal relief funds.
The short-term funding will benefit 23 public defenders, including attorneys, investigators, and staff. However, it does not meet Lowery’s earlier request for $350,000 to bring starting salaries up to $80,000, aligning them with county-funded assistant district attorneys. Advocates, including coalition attorney CJ Lawrence, consider the boost a meaningful first step but continue to push for sustainable, long-term funding.
Funding for public defenders has historically been limited, with previous temporary increases funded by federal aid that eventually expired. Lowery noted in a column that the 2022 boost prevented staff resignations, but staffing shortages persist, and proposals for longer-term raises have repeatedly been rejected due to cost concerns.
Cost concerns are often linked to the county’s detention expenses, which include millions spent on housing inmates in other facilities after the Raymond jail was declared overcrowded and dangerous. Some supervisors cited these costs as reasons for hesitating to allocate more funds to public defense, despite advocates’ arguments that investing in public defenders could reduce detention costs and improve justice outcomes.
As the county prepares to set its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, advocates are organizing a campaign to gather support for increased, sustainable funding. Defend Mississippi expressed gratitude for the board’s recent decision but emphasized the need for long-term solutions to ensure fair and effective public defense services in Hinds County.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
