New Jersey / Office of the Public Defender

Agency file

Office of the Public Defender

Source file: New Jersey — YourMoney State Payroll / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Office of the Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2024, this agency had 672 employees with median total compensation of $86,980; the highest distinct record was $185,424.

Year: 2024
Total payroll: $60.2M
Employees: 672
Median total: $86,980
Highest record: $185,424

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$223$162,947+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2024 total compensation is spread across the 672 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($86,980) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $87,991 (98%)
Overtime — $40 (0%)
Other — $1,486 (2%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$45,849

$62,261

$86,980

$115,845

$136,555

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $136,555 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $45,849. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2

175 · $109,634

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr

108 · $74,815

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3

67 · $138,910

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1

56 · $85,071

Legal Secretary 2

56 · $47,864

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2023	$57.6M —	720 —	$79,789 —
2024	$60.2M ▲ 4.5%	672 ▼ 6.7%	$86,980 ▲ 9.0%

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Laura Lasota

Dpty Publ Defndr 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$155,593

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $146,798
Overtime: $6,098
Other pay: $2,697
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $155,593
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Managerial (Represented-Ibew)
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Lasota, Laura B
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 107710
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $152,495
Year-to-Date Earnings: $155,593

Laura Lasota holds the role of Dpty Publ Defndr 2 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $155,593. Their bargaining unit is Managerial (Represented-Ibew).

Ilene Mcfarland

Dpty Publ Defndr 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$153,712

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,852
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,860
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $153,712
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Managerial (Represented-Ibew)
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Mcfarland, Ilene
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 123047
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $158,174
Year-to-Date Earnings: $153,712

Ilene Mcfarland is a Dpty Publ Defndr 2 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $153,712. Their bargaining unit is Managerial (Represented-Ibew).

Erica Smith

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Smith, Erica G
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 100759
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

At Office of the Public Defender, Erica Smith serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $152,690. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Donna Scocozza

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Scocozza, Donna J
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 107547
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

At Office of the Public Defender, Donna Scocozza serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $152,690. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Jodi Ferguson

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Ferguson, Jodi L
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 14394
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

Jodi Ferguson is a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $152,690. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Todd Steadman

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Steadman, Todd C
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 170
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

Todd Steadman is a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $152,690. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Lisa Maglone

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Maglone, Lisa A
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 104537
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

Lisa Maglone works as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Lisa earned $152,690 in 2024. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Marcia Blum

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Blum, Marcia
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 1072
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

Marcia Blum works as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Marcia earned $152,690 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Richard Nunes

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Nunes, Richard
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 136465
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

Richard Nunes is a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $152,690. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Carol Wentworth

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Wentworth, Carol R
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 14903
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

At Office of the Public Defender, Carol Wentworth serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $152,690. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Samantha Verwilt

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,690

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,744
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,690
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Verwilt, Samantha C
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 16957
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,690

At Office of the Public Defender, Samantha Verwilt serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $152,690. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Thomas Belsky

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$152,644

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $150,945
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,699
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $152,644
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Belsky, Thomas P
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 132255
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $152,644

Thomas Belsky works as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Thomas earned $152,644 in 2024. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Eileen Labarre

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$150,334

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $148,648
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,686
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $150,334
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Labarre, Eileen G
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 102858
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $150,334

Eileen Labarre holds the role of Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $150,334. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Dana Keane

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$150,334

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $148,648
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,686
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $150,334
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Keane, Dana
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 11512
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $150,334

Dana Keane works as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Dana earned $150,334 in 2024. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Jacqueline Pham

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$150,334

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $148,648
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,686
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $150,334
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Pham, Jacqueline
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 104186
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $150,334

Jacqueline Pham works as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Jacqueline earned $150,334 in 2024. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Dinaz Akhtar

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$150,334

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $148,648
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,686
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $150,334
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Akhtar, Dinaz
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 107776
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $154,226
Year-to-Date Earnings: $150,334

At Office of the Public Defender, Dinaz Akhtar serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $150,334. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Kathryn Marron

Dpty Publ Defndr 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$150,198

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $147,431
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,768
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $150,198
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Managerial (Represented-Ibew)
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Marron, Kathryn A
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 127316
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $152,495
Year-to-Date Earnings: $150,198

At Office of the Public Defender, Kathryn Marron serves as a Dpty Publ Defndr 2 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $150,198. Union affiliation: Managerial (Represented-Ibew).

Charles Oconnell

Dpty Publ Defndr 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$149,987

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $147,220
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,768
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $149,987
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Managerial (Represented-Ibew)
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Oconnell, Charles
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 166131
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $152,495
Year-to-Date Earnings: $149,987

At Office of the Public Defender, Charles Oconnell serves as a Dpty Publ Defndr 2 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $149,987. Union affiliation: Managerial (Represented-Ibew).