A Public Defender Office

The County of Wayne is seeking a non-profit organization to operate a Public Defender Office (PDO) to provide indigent criminal defense services in approximately 35% of adult felony cases in Michigan's Third Judicial Circuit Court. The selected organization will be responsible for providing the best possible representation to clients, incorporating nationally recognized best practices for criminal defense while operating in a cost-effective manner. The PDO will be funded by the County and annual state grant awards from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission, with an anticipated operational budget of approximately $14,000,000. The contract duration is 1 year, with four additional one-year extension options. Key responsibilities include providing representation in approximately 5,600 cases per year, including capital and non-capital cases, interlocutory appeals, and other matters. • The selected organization must be a qualified non-profit organization with experience in providing indigent criminal defense services. • The organization must be able to provide the best possible representation to clients, incorporating nationally recognized best practices for criminal defense. • The organization must be able to operate in a cost-effective manner, with an anticipated operational budget of approximately $14,000,000. • The organization must be able to provide representation in approximately 5,600 cases per year, including capital and non-capital cases, interlocutory appeals, and other matters. • The organization must be able to work with the County and the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.