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Jefferson County, state public defender discuss facility transition as statute deadlines approach
Summary
The Seventh District’s new district public defender, Jordan Crane, told Jefferson County commissioners the state’s amended statute requires either vacating or working out a county agreement by set deadlines; the county and state discussed leasing, utilities and furniture disposition.
Jordan Crane, the newly appointed district public defender for Idaho’s Seventh Judicial District, told Jefferson County commissioners on Friday that a recent change to state law requires the State Public Defender’s Office and counties to decide how to transition public defender facilities.
Crane said the statute “tells the state public defender we’ve got to either be out by 2029 or have some worked out with the county,” and that an amendment “says we’ve got to have a bind start 2027 that would involve the county and kind of decide how do we transition out, do we transition out.”
Why it matters: Jefferson County currently provides office space configured for a public defender office — with secure entry, receptionist area and meeting rooms — and the change could require formal agreements on leases, utility payments and the disposition of furniture and equipment.
Crane said the office is willing to lease the space short term and that Bonneville County had in the past “salvaged everything” when the state left another site. Commissioners and county staff discussed options for a short-term lease, who would pay utilities, and whether the county would want reclaimed furniture if the state removed it at the end of any transition.
Crane described staffing pressures in the district and the allocation of attorney positions, saying the district currently has 14 full-time public defenders and that staffing allocations and workloads vary by county. He also said he expected the county would prefer some revenue from leasing the space rather than continuing to pay utilities without offset.
Discussion only: Commissioners and staff did not adopt any changes to county policy or sign any lease; Crane asked county officials to consider how the county would treat utilities, maintenance and office furniture and to begin negotiations if the county wanted to pursue a lease or memorandum of understanding. Crane and commissioners agreed the likely short-term horizon is three to five years, but that county needs could change.
Next steps: Crane asked the county to contact him with issues that arise from courts or transitions; county staff and commissioners said they will consider negotiating a memorandum of understanding if the county wants to lease the space or set explicit cost-sharing for utilities and maintenance.
Ending: Commissioners thanked Crane for the update and for coordinating with Bonneville County and district staff; no formal action was taken during the meeting.
