Evaluation of the Private Defender Program 2026

The County of San Mateo is seeking a qualified contractor to evaluate the Private Defender Program (PDP), which provides indigent defense services to the county. The contractor will assess the PDP's performance in areas such as independence and oversight, compliance with national and state standards, quality of indigent defense, staff workload, and adequacy of resources. The contractor will also provide recommendations for improving indigent defense in the county. • The PDP has been in operation since 1969 and contracts with approximately 116 attorneys to represent adult defendants and minors in criminal cases. • The program also provides support services, including investigators, paralegal services, and social workers. • The county seeks a contractor with broad experience in evaluating indigent defense programs and a strong understanding of the scope of services to be provided. • The contractor will be expected to collect and review current PDP practices and metrics, conduct interviews with stakeholders, and compare the PDP to applicable national and state guidelines and best practices. • The contractor will provide a written report detailing its evaluation findings, methodology, and recommendations for improving indigent defense in the county.