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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

San Bernardino County Grand Jury • 2006-2007

Barstow Sheriff’s Station

2 pages
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Findings 2 findings

F1 Page 50
Licensed to practice law in the State of California.
F2
The attorney has malpractice insurance. The contracting attorney determines which sub-contract attorney would actually represent the defendant in each case. There is no requirement for specific experience levels, capabilities or qualifications of a sub-contract attorney to handle different types of crimes or cases (excluding life without possibility of parole or death penalty cases). At present, there were only four bidders on the four County contracts which are awarded to contract attorneys every three years. Those bids are as follows: 34 2006-2007 San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report CONTRACT AREA MISD. COST FELONY COST North Desert (Victorville/Barstow) $375 $1045 East Valley (Central/Fontana) $375 $975 West Valley (Chino/ Rancho) $400 $975 East Desert (Joshua Tree) $375 $1150 In the Central Division (San Bernardino), there were 1,295 felony appointments to the contract attorneys during the year 2006. There are approximately 15 sub- contract attorneys who handle the cases in the Central Division. The charge per defendant is so low Orange County and Los Angeles County attorneys do not bid on the San Bernardino indigent defense attorney contracts. Since the appointment of a new Public Defender in 2006, there has been a nine percent drop in the number of felony appointments and a 15 percent drop in the number of misdemeanor appointments to contract attorneys. This has reduced the income of contract attorneys and has saved the County over $700,000.00.

Recommendations 3