ALTERNATE PUBLIC DEFENDER S OFFICE

Transcription

1 ALTERNATE PUBLIC DEFENDER S OFFICE Mission Description The mission of the Alternate Public Defender s Office (APD) is to protect the constitutional rights of the indigent by providing a voice in their defense in Washoe County Courtrooms. The Alternate Public Defender s office represent adult and juvenile clients charged with crimes in the District, Justice, and Delinquency courts in Washoe County. The Office also represents clients in Family court,,and in appeals to the Nevada Supreme Court. Clients who are eligible for appointed attorneys are referred to the Alternate Public Defender s Office when there is a conflict of interest which prevents the Public Defender s Office from being able to defend that client. This assures each client will have independent counsel. The Alternate Public Defender s Office opened July 1, 2007 Statutory Authority: NRS 260 County Public Defenders General Fund Expenditures by Type FY11/12 Actual FY12/13 Budget FY13/14 Tentative Budget % Change 12/13-13/14 Salaries & Wages $ 1,197,193 $ 1,240,602 $ 1,239,991 0% Employee Benefits 441, , ,932 4% Services & Supplies 133, , ,063 1% Total Alternative Public Defender $ 1,772,148 $ 1,857,021 $ 1,878,986 1% Department Full-Time Equivalent Information FTE Summary by Fund FY11/12 Actual FY12/13 Budget FY13/14 Tentative Budget % Change 12/13-13/14 Alternative Public Defender % Department FY13/14 Strategic Plan 1.0 Department Strategic Objective: Perform within best practice standards for Indigent Defense Outcome Goal Measure & Target 1.1 Safe, secure, and healthy community Compliance with the Supreme Court Performance Standards M: Increase communication with clients T: Meet with or speak to all clients prior to initial appearance Provide high-quality, cost-efficient indigent defense M: Reduce number of client complaints T: No findings of ineffective representation Implement realistic and fiscally responsible case load standards. M: Maintain case loads of 250 or less per lawyer in the criminal division T: Achieve a reduction that comes close to meeting national case load 1.2 Have a staff welleducated in new developments in criminal justice 1.3 Support the County workforce Provide training to staff to keep abreast of changes in the NRS, court procedures, and Supreme Court Increase trial experience for staff through team trials and mentorship. 2.0 Department Strategic Objective: Teamwork within the Criminal Justice System standards of 150 per lawyer M: Track CLE and other educational courses of the employees T: Maintain appropriate professional licenses, and remain updated to changes in the criminal justice system M: Have two lawyers on each criminal trial for training purposes T: Have all criminal attorneys capable of handling a Class A felony Outcome Goal Measure & Target Reduce continuances by better communicating with other criminal justice agencies. 2.1 Increased efficiencies in Washoe County Courts through collaboration M: Resolve a higher percentage of cases without multiple court settings T: Ten percent reduction in continuances 1

2 Outcome Goal Measure & Target Participate in local committees and groups dedicated to improving the criminal justice system. M: Remain active in CJAC, IDC, Local Rules Committee, and Bench/Bar meetings T: Participate in and support modifications that reduce continuances and jail population Update the current Conflict Policy M: Reduction in the number of conflicts T: At least five percent reduction in conflicts 3.0 Strategic Objective: Replace case management system Outcome Goal Measure & Target Implement a program that will provide the statistical data required by the Nevada Supreme Court accessible format 3.1 Improve Statistical Reporting and case management across the primary justice partners. 3.3 Increased ability to share information and data with the other partners within the criminal justice system Increase the efficiency of entering data and generating reports Decrease staff hours spent entering duplicative information Improve efficiency in downloading, sharing information from the District Attorney, the Public Defender, and the Justice Courts M: Efficiencies in accessing data and statistical information. T: Provide reports that track cases, from opening to closing, in an easily M: Have current information in the system, and updated as necessary T: All cases entered and assigned within 72 hours of appointment M: Increase support staff ability to complete other necessary tasks T: Reduce data entry time by at least 10% M: Create files and have attorneys assigned in less time. T: Reduce backlog of files to be created by 20% Output Measures Department Objective Measures FY Actual FY Actual FY Estimate FY Projected Provide professional legal representation to indigent clients. Cases received by APD Office: Criminal Class A Felonies Juvenile Family Specialty Court 2,093 1, ,878 1, ,914 1, ,000 1, Cases sent by APD to Appointed Counsel Administrator: Criminal Class A Felonies Juvenile Family Specialty Court Appellate N/A N/A N/A N/A Provide professional legal representation to indigent clients. Cases Retained by APD Office: Criminal Cases per Lawyer Class A Felonies Class A cases per Lawyer Open cases per Lawyer 1, , Family Cases per Lawyer Open Cases per lawyer Juvenile Cases per Lawyer Open cases per Lawyer Appeals: Appeals filed

3 Washoe County Alternate Public Defender FY Budget Presentation April 2013

4 Mission of the Alternate Public Defender s Office To protect the constitutional rights of the indigent by providing them a voice in their defense. The services are mandated by the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and NRS 260.

5 What is the Alternate Public Defender s Office? The office was created in March 2007 to handle cases when the Public Defender s Office has a legal conflict of interest and cannot represent the client. The APD office handles cases in criminal court, juvenile court, and family court. It also handles appeals to the Nevada Supreme Court. There are 14 staff members in the APD office.

6 APD Organizational Chart Alternate Public Defender Jennifer Lunt Investigators Lawyers Support Staff 2 investigators 5 criminal lawyers 1 family court lawyer 1 juvenile lawyer 1 legal lead secretary 1 legal secretary 2 Office Support Specialists

7 Services Provided CRIMINAL COURT: represents indigent defendants on all charges where the person is facing a jail or prison sentence. Charges range from murder to drunk driving. The courts that are covered include the District Court, and the Justice Courts, in addition to the Nevada Supreme Court. FAMILY COURT: represents parents who have lost legal custody of their children to Washoe County; works to help the families reunify. JUVENILE COURT: represents juveniles charged with delinquent acts.

8 Budget $1,857,261 Salaries and Benefits: $1,704,669 Supplies: $152,352

9 APD Statistics FY Criminal Cases: 805 Class A cases: 43 Family Cases: 106 Juvenile Cases: 238 TOTAL: 1,191

10 APD Statistics FY11-12 Criminal cases: 726 Class A cases: 29 Family cases: 104 Juvenile cases: 169 Appeals: 15 TOTAL: 999

11 APD Statistics FY12-13 (est.) Criminal: 796 Class A cases: 34 Family: 34 Juvenile: 150 Appeals: 20 TOTAL: 1,000

12 Prior Reductions The Alternate Public Defender originally had two family court lawyers; one of the positions was eliminated, in a cost-saving measure.

13 Trends The last three years saw a reduction in the case loads That trend appears to be an end, as the numbers are beginning to increase The clients we defend are charged with more serious felonies

14 Institutional Defenders Set budgets, with predictable expenses Collaborative efforts with other criminal justice agencies Experienced, qualified attorneys Best Value to Taxpayers and Community

15 Alternate Public Defender Questions now? Questions later: Contact: Jennifer Lunt (775)