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Friday, January 27, 2012 09:03A little-known state agency says it can save the state $1 million a year by overseeing defense costs for Washington's troubled civil-commitment program that locks up the most dangerous sex offenders, reports the Seattle Times in its "Price of Protection" series. The state Office of Public Defense said providing centralized financial oversight and eliminating hourly billing by defense attorneys would lead to the savings.
The Times found the state has little control over its $12 million a year in legal bills spent to keep sex offenders detained beyond prison. Offenders facing civil commitment routinely postpone their trials for years, driving up costs and wasting state money. State lawmakers, pressed to close a $1.5 billion budget shortfall, will consider OPD's proposals during the legislative session.
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