Chief public defender warns of caseload surge, seeks full‑time CHINS/TPR attorney or more contractual funding

Gretch Netley, chief public defender, told the Vigo County budget panel that the defender's office is asking for either a full‑time attorney position to handle CHINS (child in need of services) and termination of parental rights (TPR) cases or additional contractual funding after an unexpected caseload surge.

Netley said the office is presenting three separate budgets — general, supplemental and a Title IV‑E grant line — and that the single most pressing funding need is coverage for CHINS and TPR work. "We have entered 3,000 misdemeanors since this pilot started in January," she said, describing prior annual intake closer to 2,000 and an extra roughly 500 cases above typical levels. That shift, she said, has left nearly every public defender at or near maximum caseload.

Netley explained the timing impact of recent legislation she called "1605," which went into effect in 2025 and shortens the time windows for filing TPRs: when a child is removed, an accelerated clock can require a TPR filing sooner than under the prior schedule. "That means parents who are not compliant in services can generate a CHINS and then a TPR — effectively two county cases —" she said, adding that the change will increase demand on defenders.

To respond, Netley proposed two options: hire a salaried attorney dedicated to CHINS/TPR work or rely on contractual attorneys. She presented a cost estimate for a salaried position of $52,618 before payroll costs and said the county typically recovers about 40% of eligible wages and expenses, with additional Title IV‑E pass‑through funds that historically return roughly 11% on average. She also put forward a Title IV‑E contractual services line (about $25,000) to cover drug screening and related clinic costs.

Netley said recruiting contract attorneys has been difficult because CHINS/TPR work can require near full‑time schedules, courtroom appearances and travel. "I've reached out to attorneys in contiguous counties and even to Marion County," she said. "There are not a lot of people that can do it." She added that some contracted help has been hired — including one contractor handling about 160 misdemeanors — but stressed that contractual arrangements alone have not reliably met demand.

Netley asked the panel to consider expanding mediation to resolve family‑service matters before a TPR is filed, a step she said could reduce filings and ease calendar pressure. She also noted a June 26 training she plans for public defenders on using investigators and paralegals more effectively.

Netley framed a longer‑term policy point as well, urging that CHINS and TPR defense be funded at the state level because counties shoulder much of the cost even when partial federal and state reimbursements apply. She said she has discussed the issue with legislators and task forces but acknowledged competing legislative priorities.

The public defender closed by answering committee questions about prior supplemental allocations and appeals costs and by reiterating that if the county does not approve a salaried position she will continue to request contractual funds to maintain compliance.

The meeting then moved on to the next scheduled presentation.