Funds to bolster Defender's Office

COEUR d'ALENE — The Kootenai County Public Defender’s Office will bolster its personnel numbers after county commissioners unanimously approved Monday the allocation of state funds.

Kootenai County received a $337,716.20 indigent defense grant from the Idaho State Public Defense Commission, which was given new funding last legislative session to improve how counties provide public defenders to residents. According to the proposal approved by commissioners during a regular meeting, the funds Kootenai County received will be used to hire a high-level attorney, a high-level legal secretary, and $100,000 to cover the costs of attorneys outside the public defenders office hired by the county should a conflict arise.

“We received this money from the state for public defense, and I think it’s good we are using some of this to offset the conflict attorney costs,” said Commissioner Dan Green. “It’s been increasing and it’s a big part of public defense. In essence, if nothing was conflicted out, they would have an even larger caseload.”

In addition to the personnel increase, $20,000 will be added to the office’s professional services budget line item. Jamie Woods, administrative supervisor for the public defenders office, said the line item, which is used to hire expert witnesses and provide for their travel expenses, is regularly more costly than what is originally budgeted.

“It’s an extremely difficult item to budget for because it depends on what kind of cases come through,” Green said.

Grant funding will also be used to hire a part-time social worker and make facility improvements.