The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(A) Pursuant to I.C. 33-40-7-5, the Board shall prepare a comprehensive plan for providing legal representation to indigent defendant/respondents in the county. The comprehensive plan shall, at minimum, provide for:
(1) Legal representation to an indigent defendant/respondent at the earliest possible point in time.
(2) Legal representation to an indigent defendant/respondent by the same attorney or attorney’s through the pendency of the matter to the greatest extent possible.
(3) Professional development, continuing legal education, and malpractice coverage for public defenders.
(B) Establish policies and procedures for the provision of competent legal representation for indigent defendants/respondents in criminal, juvenile, probation violation, extradition, child support, criminal contempt and other matters pursuant to the comprehensive plan.
(C) Establish guidelines with procedures for the determination of indigency and for the appropriate reimbursement for legal representation provided at public expense in accordance with I.C. 33-40-3.
(D) Recommend an annual operating budget of the county Public Defender Department and monitor the expenditures of fund.
(E) Appoint a Chief Public Defender for the county, who shall be an attorney admitted to the practice of law in the State of Indiana, who shall be authorized to employ or contract with attorneys, investigators, secretaries, and other persons as necessary and consistent with the comprehensive plan and the budget approved by the County Council.
(F) Submit an annual report to the county executive, the county fiscal body, and the judges regarding the operation of the county Public Defender’s office including information relating to caseloads and expenditures.
(BC Ord. 1995-16, passed 11-6-1995; BC Ord. 2013-0003, passed 6-3-2013; Ord. 2020-0040, passed 7-6-2020)