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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Ind. Courts - "Three New Counties Join Public Defender Reimbursement Program"

So announces a press release on the Indiana Courts site:

Three more Indiana counties have become part of the Indiana Public Defender Commission Program that seeks to provide quality legal defense for criminal defendants and lessen the financial burden on Indiana counties, Chief Justice Shepard announced today.

Howard, Wabash and St. Joseph counties have taken steps to join the other 54 Indiana counties that already receive reimbursements from the State of Indiana for the cost of defending indigent criminal defendants. Counties that establish local public defender boards and establish a comprehensive plan for delivering services are eligible to receive 40 percent to defend felony cases. This is in addition to the 50 percent reimbursement of the costs of death penalty cases that any Indiana county is eligible to receive.

In Howard County, County Commissioners passed an ordinance to form a public defender board in 2004 and asked the 11-member Indiana Public Defender Commission to approve its comprehensive plan in October 2006. During 2007, the Commission has approved $249,702 in reimbursements for Howard County’s public defense expenses.

In Wabash County, County Commissioners passed an ordinance to form a public defender board in 2006 and requested approval of its comprehensive plan in April 2007. During 2007, the Commission has approved $11,663 in reimbursements for Wabash County’s public defense expenses.

In St. Joseph County, County Commissioners passed an ordinance to form a public defender board in January 2007 and requested approval of a comprehensive plan in April 2007. It is expected to be eligible to receive reimbursements in December 2007, when it come into compliance with all Commission standards.

Since the Public Defender Commission was created by the legislature in 1989, it has delivered $62.1 million to Indiana counties for the costs of indigent criminal defense. In 2007, the Indiana General Assembly increased the funding of the Commission’s work from $10 million to $14 million.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 17, 2007 12:42 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts