229: From a 25% Vacancy Rate to Nearly Zero, How the Montana Public Defender System Came Back from the Brink w/Brett Schandelson

Today, Hunter is once again joined by Brett Schandelson, the Director of the Montana Office of the State Public Defender. Last time he was one, we discussed his efforts to make Public Defense policy in Montana driven by data. Today, we discuss how those efforts have drastically turned the state system around. Specifically, Brett details how doing a better job of tracking cases and sticking to a workload standard has reduced turnover and helped retain Public Defenders throughout the state. Guests: Brett Schandelson, Director, Montana Office of the State Public Defender   Resources: Office of the State Public Defender https://publicdefender.mt.gov/ Agenda-DIBC-12-13-2023.pdf (mt.gov) 61080-OPD-QFR-Dec2023.pdf (mt.gov) Quick video on the OPD Quarterly Update (at meeting start) Brett's presentation 12/13/23 IBC OPD Section Materials https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Narrative-Response.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Fees-Assessed-and-Paid.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Ethical-Case-Management.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-FTE-Allocation.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Fees-Assessed-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Contractor-Capital-Hours-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Number-of-Matters-by-FTE-and-Contractors-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Number-of-Matters-Without-MCA-Violations-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Active-Matters-and-Weights-December-7-2023.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-HB-190-Annual-Plan-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-IBC-Update-Dec2023.pdf   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN