San Mateo County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

San Mateo County Private Defender Program Issue | Summary | Glossary | Background | Methodology | Discussion | Findings

Published: June 30, 2015 15 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 4 findings

F1
According to its Agreement with the San Mateo County Bar Association, the County can conduct contract evaluations at any time, but they have not been done on a regular basis. No evaluation was done between 2003 and 2012.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Conduct formal evaluations of the indigent defense system at least every five years.
F2
None of the last three County evaluations (in 2001, 2003, and 2012) have specifically addressed whether state and national guidelines were considered.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Include, as a component of such formal evaluations, a determination of whether the County’s approach to indigent defense is consistent with state and national guidelines.
F3
The County’s 2012 evaluation of the PDP limited public input to individuals and entities invited by the evaluation committee to participate. The evaluation process was not open to members of the public or community organizations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Include, as a component of such formal evaluations, input from community members and organizations. The process of receiving community input should be open to the public and not by invitation only.
F4
The County’s last three evaluations of the PDP did not report any review or conclusions of whether the PDP continues to be the best model for the County to provide indigent legal defense.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Include, as a component of such formal evaluations, whether the current system continues to be the best model for the County for providing indigent legal defense.

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office