(1030) Public Defender

Under the U.S. and California Constitutions, individuals charged with a crime have the right to equal and effective legal representation, equal protection, and due process under the law, regardless of their ability to afford an attorney.  The Public Defender represents these individuals, as well as individuals involved in conservatorships, some probate matters, and limited civil matters, as appointed by the court.  Local county government is required by State Law to provide and pay for the attorney services for those who are unable to afford private counsel.  This is known as "indigent defense." 

Indigent Public Defender services in San Benito County are provided through contracts with two firms and by additional individual court-appointed attorneys as needed to provide the full scope of indigent defense services.  This allows representation when there is a conflict of interest or when more than one defendant is present in a case. 

STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS

The Public Defender supports the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan Focus Areas in the following areas:

• Operational Development and Excellence,
• Community Engagement and
• Healthy & Safe Communities.

Detailed information can be found here: Strategic Plan Overview

• The Public Defender Oversight Committee (PDOC) was formed in August 2024 with the mission, in part, to review all aspects of public defender services in San Benito County
• The County continues to build its relationship with the Court to ensure the needs of indigent representation are met while streamlining internal process and procedures

• The PDOC will continue to evaluate how to best manage increasing public defense costs. 
• The County remains committed to ensuring quality services and equal representation are at the forefront and is actively reviewing and improving internal process to meet that goal.

The PDOC will also be asked to evaluate the equity in staffing between District Attorney Office and the contract Public Defenders and additionally evaluate long term staffing options/costs, and ensure that the Public Defense Program meets, to the extent possible, recommended staffing guidelines.