Attorney General's Office has said that the highest number of state appointed attorneys this year so far has been for children.

Statistics released by the AG's Office show 140 lawyers appointed to child in the past eight months including 74! children under the age of 18. The statistics also show lawyers appointed to 28 individuals between the ages of 18 and 30, 31 individuals between the ages of 31 and 50 along with seven individuals above the age of 50.

The highest number of state appointed lawyers for children include those involved in drug related crimes. And so, lawyers were appointed to 40 children involved in drug crimes and 12 children involved in assault cases. And eight children were appointed lawyers for their involvement in theft and scams while four were appointed lawyers for vandalism.

State has also appointed lawyers to three children involved in threats and blackmail, two children involved in sexual assault and two children who obstructed Police duties and made death threats.

If a child taken in to custody for a crime, the state appoints an attorney to them if a lawyer cannot be appointed to them by legal guardians. The state also appoints lawyers to those who cannot afford them during major criminal cases.