Memorandum
Date: February 14, 2023
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Anita L. Grant, County Counsel
Carlos Torrez, Deputy County Counsel
Subject: Presentation of Initial Steps in the County’s Ongoing Review of the Provision of Legal Services for Indigent Criminal Defendants
Executive Summary:
This office was asked several months ago to provide assistance in the course of the above-described review. It is important to note that the public defenders in this County have extremely demanding jobs which take a great deal of time, attention, and legal knowledge to perform. This work and the individuals who perform that work in Lake County are worthy of considerable respect.
It is our understanding that the ongoing review by the County is in no way directed toward the performances of the individual attorneys performing these services. The review is directed toward the improvement of the system for the provision of these services and the mechanisms to make such improvements.
The Administrative Office is, of course, leading this review. We have simply been asked to make certain recommendations. Those recommendations are as follows:
1. Reconstitute the Public Defender Advisory Committee to include an attorney who has substantial prior experience as a public defender but does not presently provide those services in Lake County, an individual who has previously been an indigent defendant in Lake County, and a member of the Board of Supervisors. Additionally, the committee should include persons whose voices are not always heard: Native Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and members of the LGBTQ+ communities.
2. Initiate and develop a community-based approach to criminal defense services, utilizing the services of Lake County Behavioral Health, Lake County Social Services, and numerous service-based groups in the County
3. Retain the services of a former public defender to assist the County in ensuring the comprehensive provision of indigent defense services.
4. Continue to pursue grant funding to initiate any desired improvements to the indigent defense system.
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Recommended Action: