Section 16-207 - Duties and powers of Public Defender.
§ 16-207. Duties and powers of Public Defender.
(a) Primary duty of Public Defender.- The primary duty of the Public Defender is to provide representation for indigent individuals in accordance with this title.
(b) General duties.- The Public Defender shall:
(1) be responsible generally for the operation of the Office and all district offices;
(2) prepare schedules of professional fees and expenses for panel attorneys and other professional and technical services rendered to indigent individuals other than by the Public Defender's staff, taking into consideration the nature of the services, the time spent, the skill or experience required, and any other pertinent factor;
(3) consult and cooperate with professional groups about the causes of criminal conduct and the development of effective means to:
(i) reduce and discourage the commission of crime;
(ii) rehabilitate and correct individuals charged and convicted of crime;
(iii) administer criminal justice; and
(iv) administer and conduct the Office; and
(4) maintain financial and statistical records about each case in which the Office provides legal assistance to an indigent individual, including data to calculate all direct and indirect costs to the Office.
(c) General powers.- The Public Defender may:
(1) adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of this title and promote the efficient conduct of the work and general administration of the Office, its professional staff, and other employees;
(2) make necessary arrangements to coordinate services of the Office with any federal program to provide an attorney to indigent individuals;
(3) arrange for the Office to receive money or services available to assist in the duties under this title; and
(4) accept the services of volunteer workers or consultants at no compensation or at nominal or token compensation and reimburse them for their necessary expenses.
(d) Services in Baltimore City.-
(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, in Baltimore City, the Public Defender may contract with private or public organizations to provide legal, administrative, or technical services for indigent individuals.
(2) A contract shall require that:
(i) the level and quality of the work at least equal that of the Office; and
(ii) the Public Defender supervise and control all services rendered.
[An. Code 1957, art. 27A, §§ 4(a), 5; 2008, ch. 15, § 2.]