(a) In any criminal action, in any habeas corpus proceeding arising from a criminal matter, in any extradition proceeding, or in any delinquency matter, the court before which the matter is pending shall, if it determines after investigation by the public defender or his office that a defendant is indigent as defined under this chapter, designate a public defender, assistant public defender or deputy assistant public defender to represent such indigent defendant, unless, in a misdemeanor case, at the time of the application for appointment of counsel, the court decides to dispose of the pending charge without subjecting the defendant to a sentence involving immediate incarceration or a suspended sentence of incarceration with a period of probation or the court believes that the disposition of the pending case at a later date will not result in a sentence involving immediate incarceration or a suspended sentence of incarceration with a period of probation and makes a statement to that effect on the record. If it appears to the court at a later date that, if convicted, the sentence of an indigent defendant for whom counsel has not been appointed will involve immediate incarceration or a suspended sentence of incarceration with a period of probation, counsel shall be appointed prior to trial or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere.

(b) In the case of codefendants, the court may appoint one or more public defenders, assistant public defenders or deputy assistant public defenders to represent such defendants or may appoint counsel from the trial list established under § 51-291.

(c) (1) The division shall provide, pursuant to § 51-296a: (A) Legal services and guardians ad litem to children, youths and indigent respondents in family relations matters in which the state has been ordered to pay the cost of such legal services and guardians ad litem, provided legal services shall be provided to indigent respondents pursuant to this subparagraph only in paternity proceedings and contempt proceedings; and (B) legal services and guardians ad litem to children, youths and indigent legal parties in proceedings before the superior court for juvenile matters. To carry out the requirements of this subsection, the office of Chief Public Defender may contract with (i) appropriate not-for-profit legal services agencies, (ii) individual lawyers or law firms for the delivery of legal services to represent children and indigent legal parties in such proceedings, and (iii) mental health professionals as guardians ad litem in family relations matters. Any contract entered into pursuant to this subsection may include terms encouraging or requiring the use of a multidisciplinary agency model of legal representation.

(2) The division shall establish a system to ensure that attorneys providing legal services pursuant to this subsection are assigned to cases in a manner that will avoid conflicts of interest, as defined by the Rules of Professional Conduct.

(3) The division shall establish training, practice and caseload standards for the representation of children, youths, indigent respondents and indigent legal parties pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. Such standards shall apply to each attorney who represents children, youths, indigent respondents or indigent legal parties pursuant to this subsection and shall be designed to ensure a high quality of legal representation. The training standards for attorneys required by this subdivision shall be designed to ensure proficiency in the procedural and substantive law related to such matters and to establish a minimum level of proficiency in relevant subject areas, including, but not limited to, family violence, child development, behavioral health, educational disabilities and cultural competence.

(d) Prior to the appearance in court in any matter specified in this section by a defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party, a public defender, assistant public defender, deputy assistant public defender or Division of Public Defender Services assigned counsel, upon a determination that the defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party is indigent pursuant to subsection (a) of § 51-297, shall be authorized to represent the defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party until the court appoints counsel for such defendant, child, youth, respondent or legal party.