The Department actively participated in the creation of Ottawa County’s first compliance plan and cost analysis plan for a new Public Defender Office. Ottawa County was required to complete and submit this plan to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) in November 2017. After several iterations, the MIDC accepted Ottawa County’s plan in June 2018. The Department then played an active role in implementing the Public Defender Office along with a group of dedicated County and court employees.
The Department’s work included the creation of a webpage, FAQ document, and hiring process timeline; participating in interviews for the Public Defender; presenting at an informational meeting with defense attorneys and other court and law enforcement personnel; regularly communicating with the MIDC; and working closely with County departments to ensure the Public Defender Office was implemented successfully.