In June 2014, many Marion County criminal justice agencies went live on new software applications, as the county’s legacy JUSTIS main-frame case management system was decommissioned. This held true for the Marion County Public Defender Agency (MCPDA), which went live on the state-provided Public Defender Information System (PDIS). PDIS is a web-based case management system designed to support the needs of public d … [Read more...] about Public Defender Information System in Marion County
Public Defender
Indiana Public Defender Commission: Providing Legal Counsel for the Indigent
Criminal and juvenile cases now constitute almost half of all cases filed in Indiana (excluding infractions). Criminal and juvenile cases require the court-appointment of counsel if the defendant is indigent. When this occurs, judges must select from a relatively small pool of attorneys who are potentially eligible for appointment. Fifty-five of Indiana’s ninety-two counties have joined the state-funded public d … [Read more...] about Indiana Public Defender Commission: Providing Legal Counsel for the Indigent
George B. Davis award and new staff at State Court Administration
Judge Richard Payne Receives George B. Davis Award Former Hancock Superior Court Judge, Richard T. Payne, received the Hancock County Bar Association George B. Davis Distinguished Jurist Award at its Spring Bar Association Dinner. The Bar Association created the award, named for eminent Hancock Circuit Court Judge, George B. Davis, to recognize exemplary and dedicated service by an Indiana trial court judge. Payne … [Read more...] about George B. Davis award and new staff at State Court Administration
Lawmakers Boost Public Defense Funding
The Constitution of the United States and the Indiana Constitution require that indigent criminal and other defendants be provided adequate legal representation. In Indiana, the fiscal responsibility for this service falls primarily on county governments. In 2012, the total public defense costs in Indiana were in excess of $71 million. Through the state Indiana Public Defense Fund, counties receive partial … [Read more...] about Lawmakers Boost Public Defense Funding
Susan Carpenter Retires as State Public Defender
After serving as the Public Defender of Indiana for nearly 30 years, Susan K. Carpenter retired in May. The Indiana Supreme Court appointed Ms. Carpenter to the position in 1981. When announcing Carpenter's retirement, Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard praised her three-decade career and said, “As chief advocate for the rights of indigent defendants, Susan Carpenter has made Indiana a place of greater justice. She has … [Read more...] about Susan Carpenter Retires as State Public Defender