The County is responsible for funding the prosecution of violations of County Ordinances punishable by jail, as well as the defense of indigent individuals arrested for violating such County Ordinances. If the individuals are arrested for violating state law as well, the County is not responsible for providing representation. Violations of certain County Ordinances may result in up to 60 days in jail. The Office is not able to represent these defendants because of potential conflicts of interest.
On April 4, 2017, the Board authorized the County Attorney to advertise for legal representation for indigent individuals arrested for County Ordinance violations punishable by jail and to execute written agreements with a cumulative annual value of such contracts not exceeding $10,000. Pursuant to that authority, the Office currently has agreements with two attorneys for representation of indigent defendants. Those agreements expire July 31, 2018.
The $10,000 maximum was based on the County’s initial projection that representation would be required for approximately 30 indigent defendants. During the past ten months, approximately 75 indigent defendants have been represented by contract counsel. Because of this increase, the County Attorney is seeking authority to negotiate and enter into a new agreement (or agreements) for the year commencing August 1, 2018, with a cumulative annual value at or under $20,000.
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