VIENNA — A recent decision by county commissioners here to cut the amount of funding to the public defender’s office may put a hole in the county’s wallet later.
Timothy Eidson, from the Cordele Circuit Public Defender’s office approached commissioners during a recent meeting to request $21,192 for the new fiscal year. This was up from the $19,186 that was approved for FY2008-2009.
In setting the previous budget, commissioners said they had no intention of providing any funding to the public defenders’ office after June 30, 2009. They argued that the responsibility to fund the public defender program lays at the state level.
The board did approve operating expenses for the office in the amount of $9,616.74. Commissioner David Barron abstained from the vote and Commissioner Charles Anderson voted against it.
Commissioners Harry Ward and Terrell Hudson voted in favor of the funding and Chairman A.C. Daniels cast the deciding vote.
“What this means for indigent defense is that after June 30 we will be losing one member of our staff,” said Eidson. “There will be only myself and two assistant public defenders to handle some 1,500 new cases each year, not to mention what is left over from the previous year that has not been resolved. In all each defender handles about 400 cases above standards.”
Eidson said that due to lack of funding the public defender’s office will now only be able to handle those cases that they are legally required by law or statute to handle.
In the past the office has handled a number of contract cases and probation revocation cases where the person was indigent.
Eidson says that now they will only be able to handle those revocations in which a new charge is added to the case. They will not be able to handle any more technical violations unless appointed by a judge.
“I do hope that I am wrong, but what I foresee is this costing the county more money in the long run,” said Eidson. “You have to look at the reality of the situation.
“The more defenders you have, the faster cases move. There are only going to be 3 of us covering 4 counties and we have to prepare for each of those cases.
“Some of these cases are serious and these people will have to be housed and fed while awaiting trial. That is going to cost money.”
After June 30 there will be 6 attorneys in the district attorney’s office, three Superior Court Judges and one Juvenile Court Judge.
“We are just going to dig in and hope for the best,” said Eidson.
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