State agency spending thousands to repair image after ANF investigations

<p>n Atlanta News First investigation has uncovered a state agency spending thousands of taxpayer dollars on public relations firms to help with its image following multiple investigations by the local news outlet.</p><p>Over the past few years, the <a href="https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/01/25/georgia-public-defenders-council-director-admits-she-cannot-find-enough-attorneys/">Georgia Public Defender Council</a>, which represents 85% of all people charged with crimes, has struggled to hire enough attorneys.</p><p>Since December, <a href="https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/05/16/sixth/">Atlanta News First investigations</a> has shed light on multiple people behind bars in county jails across Georgia, legally innocent, but without legal representation, a violation of the <a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-6/#:~:text=In%20all%20criminal%20prosecutions%2C%20the,of%20the%20accusation%3B%20to%20be">Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution</a>.</p><p>In an apparent attempt to put a positive spin on the struggling agency, documents obtained through public record requests show the Defender Council has hired two public relations companies.</p><p><a href="https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/05/16/sixth/"><b>THE SIXTH | A SPECIAL ATLANTA NEWS FIRST INVESTIGATION</b></a></p>