US SB1102

Authorizes $250 million annually for the first 5 fiscal years for the Attorney General to award grants to states, localities, tribal organizations, and public defender offices to improve public defense systems

Creates two grant types: data grants (3-year term) for developing caseload tracking systems, and hiring grants (3-year term) for adding public defenders, increasing pay parity with prosecutors, hiring support staff, and establishing loan assistance programs

Requires grant recipients to collect and report detailed data on attorney workloads, case types, client demographics, case outcomes, and time spent on various defense activities within 60 days of each fiscal year's end

Directs the Attorney General to conduct studies on optimal public defender caseloads and compensation levels, using prosecutor salaries as a benchmark, with updates at least every 5 years

Authorizes $5 million annually for 5 years for educational programs providing training to public defenders and panel attorneys on trial skills, client-centered values, implicit bias, and leadership development