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Lincoln County will advertise for public defender services as office is established
Summary
The commission voted to advertise a request for proposals for public defender services to provide overflow and redundancy while the county establishes an in-house public defender office; the initial contract term described is one year with options to extend.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on June 4 voted to advertise a request for proposals for public defender services as the county works to form a public defender office. State's Attorney Drew Dro told commissioners the county will seek an initial one-year contract with options to extend for two additional years so the county has back-up coverage and redundancy while staffing the office.
Why it matters: establishing a public defender office and having contractual coverage for overflow affects legal representation for indigent defendants and county budgeting for criminal defense services.
Dro said the county previously contracted with local firms and has used a main and overflow contract; the proposed RFP process aims to eliminate a separate overflow contract while ensuring redundancy as the in-house office starts work. "The hope is is that we can have the public defender advisory board in place in July, start advertising in July for the public defender," Dro said, describing the anticipated timeline for advertising proposals and selecting a contract.
Commissioners moved and seconded the action to advertise the RFP. Clerk Alicia called the roll and recorded the recorded affirmative responses; the motion carried.
What happens next: county staff will publish the RFP and accept proposals; the board will evaluate submissions and return to the commission for contract approval or further action.
