ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) – Lawmakers say Illinois hasn’t significantly changed its public defense structure since 1949.

The community hopes to change this to bring freedom and justice to all those awaiting trial.

At least five people shared their firsthand accounts with public defenders Thursday in hopes that Winnebago County and the state will take better steps to fix what some say is a crisis in our courts.

‘King Moosa’ was involved in a serious criminal case and had a constitutional right to a public defender, but says he felt helpless to represent himself. Moosa shared his story with dozens of people Thursday night in hopes of change

“My lawyer admitted years later that he couldn’t even represent me,” he says.

“This is an opportunity for us to address some structural issues that will make justice more accessible to those who need it most,” says K. Edward Copeland, Pastor of New Zion Baptist Church.

State Rep. Dave Vella says public defenders are understaffed and overloaded with cases. That’s why Winnebago County’s leading public defender remained tied up in court all day Thursday, he said.

“We don’t have speedy justice for either the victims or the defendants, and it costs taxpayers a lot more money,” Vella says.

That’s why Vella introduced the Funded Advocacy and Independent Representation, or FAIR Act, which would create a state public defender’s office, in part, to assess client needs, staffing and statewide resources.

“In each of these, we are talking about human life,” says ‘King Moosa’.

State Senator Dave Syverson says they are spending more money on defense-level funds at the Winnebago county level than ever before.

“When there are delays in trials, it’s very frustrating. They’re usually caused by the defense delaying things,” Syverson says.

A man who has been in the Winnebago County jail for five years is still awaiting trial. He spoke to the room on the phone this evening.

People shared stories about not only criminal cases but also family cases. One person shared that they are at war with DCFS.

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