KINGMAN — Representatives from the Mohave County Indigent Defense System (IDS) presented at the Mohave County Board of Supervisors meeting to explain funding needs. IDS manages the budget for the public defender, the legal defender, and the legal advocate—who each gave an assessment of their department’s needs.
IDS Director Blake Schritter explained the relationship between the different departments, as well as explaining his own department’s budgetary needs. IDS handles the initial intake and processing of each legal case after it has been assigned by the courts. IDS also manages the budget for each of the departments, as well as managing the Title 36 contract for mental health cases.
Since 2009, the Arizona Supreme Court and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association established the recommended average caseloads based on case type. Each attorney is expected to be able to handle 150 felonies, 400 misdemeanors, 200 juvenile cases, and 25 appeals cases.
Schrittner argued that his department needs an increase in contract rates to attract quality staff. Contract rates have not increase in 15 years, he said, despite an increased workload of 60% during that same time. He also recommends returning staffing to 2014 levels.
Each of the other department heads spoke about their needs. Public Defender Jon Gillenwater said that his office needs six attorneys, an investigator, and three support staff—$1,231,000 altogether.
Legal Defender Ron Gilleo sought $624,000, which would pay for three attorneys, an office specialist, and an investigator. He also emphasized that they are “reactionary,” meaning they have no control over their caseload.
Legal Advocate Bobbie Shin spoke last, emphasizing the uniqueness of the Legal Advocate Office (LAO). Unlike the other offices, the LAO can defend, prosecute, and advocate—“…sometimes all in the same hearing” she said.
The LAO also has an exceptionally high turnover due to extreme secondary trauma, she told the council. She pointed out that the 200-case workload for juvenile cases that Schrittner cited only refers to cases of delinquency. The LAO, by contrast, deals with many cases that are not criminal in nature, such as adoptions, emancipation, and guardianship. Victim advocacy is another case type.
Shin also pointed out an unfunded mandate that exists that she says has become a significant strain on the department. A few years ago, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) restructured and rewrote juvenile rules and procedures to mandate that attorneys must meet with clients in person before each substantive hearing in each dependency case. Many clients do not reside in Mohave County, though, which means her investigators are responsible for over 250 client visits, many of whom do not reside in the county.
Overall, Shin asked for two additional investigators, as well as a paralegal and an office specialist, for a total of $314,000.
The presentation was informational only, and no votes were taken at the meeting. The Board of Supervisors is still working on its budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Its last budget workshop was on April 16, which can be viewed online.
