1. (a) The board, or joint board of a multicounty public defender's office created under section 3.5 of this chapter, shall prepare a comprehensive plan that must include at least one (1) of the following methods of providing legal defense services to indigent persons:

   1. (1) Establishing a county or multicounty public defender's office.
   2. (2) Contracting with an attorney, a group of attorneys, or a private organization.
   3. (3) Using an assigned counsel system of panel attorneys for case by case appointments under section 9 of this chapter.
   4. (4) In a county described in section 1(5) of this chapter, establishing a public defender's office for the criminal division of the superior court.
2. (b) The plan prepared under subsection (a) shall be submitted to the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys.

3. (c) If a multicounty public defender's joint board is established under section 3.5 of this chapter, the comprehensive plan shall establish a multicounty public defender's office.

   [Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-9-15-5.]

As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.69-2019, SEC.6; P.L.104-2022, SEC.139; P.L.111-2024, SEC.13.