LAWRENCE CO. — Starting next month, nine Indiana counties, including Lawrence County, will participate in a pilot program offering partial state reimbursement for public defender costs in misdemeanor cases.
This marks the first time in nearly 30 years that the state will contribute to these expenses, which counties previously bore entirely.
The initiative aims to gather data to support a long-term reimbursement program for public defense in misdemeanor cases. Currently, the Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys helps counties fund public defense for death penalty, felony, and child abuse cases, but misdemeanor costs have been excluded.
Clark, DeKalb, Floyd, Lawrence, Perry, Pulaski, Steuben, Vigo, and Wabash counties will receive 40% reimbursement for a period of 18 months. In exchange, these counties must adhere to attorney caseload and compensation standards set by the commission. They will also need to provide data on the program’s impact on attorney appointment rates, jail populations, trial rates, and case outcomes for a report due by 2029.
“Our top priority is to guarantee enough funding for our core mission of reimbursing all counties that comply with our standards for the entire 40% of their eligible public defense expenses,” said Derrick Mason, Executive Director of the Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys, in a news release. He added that effective public defense ultimately saves taxpayer dollars.
The pilot program, authorized by Senate Enrolled Act 179 in 2024, was designed to consider population and geographic diversity. Commission staff also prioritized counties with strong leadership, effective communication, and a history of accurate, on-time reimbursement requests.
While the statute allowed for up to 12 participants over four years, the commission selected nine counties for 18 months, citing “budget cuts” that impacted most state agencies. However, participation could be renewed based on county success and the commission’s budget, and the pilot could potentially expand if more funding becomes available.
