Performance Details

Department of Administration - Public Defender Agency

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Mission

To provide constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent clients appointed by the court.

Core Services

• Establish timely and effective communications with clients regarding legal rights, the legal process, charges, and evidence.
• Timely review of case materials to advise clients.
• Timely actions taken on behalf of clients.

Mission Results

Core Services

A: Indigent clients receive legal advice and representation to ensure fair opportunity to respond to the state"s case. Details >

A1: Establish timely and effective communications with clients regarding legal rights, the legal process, charges, and evidence. Details > TARGET #1: 100% of clients are contacted within 3 days of court appointment. A2: Timely review of case materials to advise clients. Details > TARGET #1: 100% of cases are opened and assigned an attorney within 48 hours of appointment. A3: Timely actions taken on behalf of clients. Details > TARGET #1: 75% of appellate opening briefs are completed within 90 days.

Performance Detail

Target #1: 100% of clients are contacted within 3 days of court appointment. Percent of Clients Contacted within Three Days of Court Appointment Fiscal Year % of clients FY 2024 29% FY 2023 31% FY 2022 37% FY 2021 36% FY 2020 21% FY 2019 14% FY 2018 38% FY 2017 18% FY 2016 30% FY 2015 20% Analysis of results and challenges: In FY2024, 29% of clients were marked in the agency case management system as contacted within three business days of case opening. Attaining this measure will enable indigent clients to speak with an attorney about their cases soon after appointment. Communication with a client early in the legal process provides the attorney with necessary information to promote a timely resolution. This measure continues to be impacted by attorney attrition. Many attorneys are communicating timely with clients but need additional guidance on indicating completion of the task in case management so the successful completion of the metric can be recorded. Target Last Modified: 10/25/2024

Target #1: 100% of cases are opened and assigned an attorney within 48 hours of appointment. % of Cases Opened and Assigned an Attorney within 48 Hours of Appointment Fiscal Year % of Cases Assigned FY 2024 80% FY 2023 81% FY 2022 76% FY 2021 78% FY 2020 69% FY 2019 51% FY 2018 74% FY 2017 85% FY 2016 69% FY 2015 63% FY 2014 62% Analysis of results and challenges: In FY2024, 80% of cases were opened and assigned an attorney in 48 business hours. Staffing stabilization for the section responsible for case opening has helped improve this measure. Attaining this measure will enable attorneys to provide timely advice regarding cases. Target Last Modified: 09/16/2024

Target #1: 75% of appellate opening briefs are completed within 90 days. % of Appellate Opening Briefs Completed within 90 Days Fiscal Year % of Briefs Open FY 2024 46% FY 2023 46% FY 2022 22% FY 2021 13% FY 2020 10% FY 2019 22% FY 2018 20% FY 2017 31% FY 2016 18% FY 2015 10% FY 2014 14% Analysis of results and challenges: In FY2024, 46% of opening briefs were filed within 90 days. This percentage was impacted by a decrease to contracting for appellate caseloads as funds were utilized on contractors handling backlogs in the trial courts. Target Last Modified: 09/16/2024

Last refreshed: 12/05/2025 05:00 pm