Statement of David E. Patton

Statement of David E. Patton Executive Director, Federal Defenders of New York Before the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security October 17, 2019 Oversight Hearing on "The Federal Bureau of Prisons and Implementation of the First Step Act" EFTA00064917 Statement of David E. Patton Executive Director, Federal Defenders of New York Before the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representative Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security October 17, 2019 Oversight Hearing on "The Federal Bureau of Prisons and Implementation of the First Step Act" Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for holding this hearing and for the opportunity to testify. At any given time, Federal Public and Community Defenders and other appointed counsel under the Criminal Justice Act represent 80 to 90 percent of all federal defendants because they are too poor to afford counsel. An overwhelming majo