Sec. 5. (a) The board, or joint board of a multicounty public defender‘s office created under section 3.5 of this chapter, shall prepare a comprehensive plan that must include at least one (1) of the following methods of providing legal defense services to indigent persons:

(1) Establishing a county or multicounty public defender’s office.

Terms Used In Indiana Code 33-40-7-5

  • Attorney: includes a counselor or other person authorized to appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • board: refers to a board established in an ordinance under section 3 of this chapter. See Indiana Code 33-40-7-2
  • Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
(2) Contracting with an attorney, a group of attorneys, or a private organization.

(3) Using an assigned counsel system of panel attorneys for case by case appointments under section 9 of this chapter.

(4) In a county described in section 1(5) of this chapter, establishing a public defender’s office for the criminal division of the superior court.

     (b) The plan prepared under subsection (a) shall be submitted to the Indiana public defender commission.

     (c) If a multicounty public defender’s joint board is established under section 3.5 of this chapter, the comprehensive plan shall establish a multicounty public defender’s office.

[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-9-15-5.]

As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.69-2019, SEC.6; P.L.104-2022, SEC.139.