Monroe County votes to seek MIDC grant to create hybrid public defender model

Monroe County commissioners voted Aug. 19 to seek a Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) grant to explore creating a hybrid indigent defense delivery model that would combine a county-employed public defender division with managed assigned counsel overseen by a dedicated administrative unit.

Brandon Heath of the Sixth Amendment Center told the board the county's current system is structurally weak: "6AC has two overarching findings from its evaluation. The current structure is one ineffect inefficient insufficient to ensure quality oversight of services for every indigent defendant and two insufficient to ensure financial oversight of services." He said excessive case loads, limited use of investigators and experts, and uneven billing oversight prevent reliable quality assurance. The 6AC recommended a hybrid model supported by a central administrative division and an executive director to manage case data, billing, training and oversight.

Commissioners pressed staff on practical next steps, including where a public defender office might be housed and how a compliance plan would be developed and reviewed by MIDC staff. Administrator Michael Basonic explained the grant/approval process and said the county would submit a compliance plan to MIDC for review and cost analysis, noting the change would likely proceed in phases. Commissioner Leven moved to approve the recommendation and seek MIDC funding; the motion carried on roll call (two commissioners opposed). The board requested ongoing staff reporting and that the administrator include progress on the MIDC application in future administrator reports.