Welcome to the Public Defender Commission

Since 1989, the Indiana Public Defender Commission has served to recommend standards for indigent defense to improve the quality of public defenders in both death penalty and non-capital cases. The Commission is the standards and county funding arm of the three organizations that work to improve public defense throughout the state of Indiana. Please look below to see which service can help you with your request. Thank you for visiting our website!

News and Announcements

Register for our Annual Conference!

Registration is NOW OPEN for the Commission's Annual Conference, set for October 18 in Indianapolis. Public Defender Board Members, Chief/Managing Public Defenders, or any county officials responsible for submitting forms to the Commission are encouraged to attend. Registration is free.

Highlights of the day will include:

• NEW FORMS: We're going paperless, and our new forms are easier to use and more efficient. Come learn how the new system will work. 
• NEW COUNTY ORIENTATION: If your county is not receiving reimbursement for public defense services through the Commission, come learn how we can work together!
• ADVOCACY: How can you work with your State and County Elected Officials to improve public defense delivery in your county?
• SUPPLEMENTAL FUND USE: Is your county getting the most bang for the buck from your Supplemental Public Defense Fund? Come learn how!

We will also have an open Q&A session where counties will share experiences and ask questions.

If you have any questions about this conference, let us know. We hope to see you on October 18!

Indiana County Chief Public Defender Job Description Guideline Released

The Indiana Chief Public Defender Association has recently created a County Chief Public Defender Job Description that is intended to serve as a guideline for county boards to consider. Click here to read it. 

2019 Commission Meetings    

• September 25, 2019 at 2 PM EST - A brief executive session may be held beginning at 2 PM pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1 (b)(9), followed by the regularly scheduled meeting.
• December 18, 2019 at 2 PM EST - A brief executive session may be held beginning at 2 PM pursuant to I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1 (b)(9), followed by the regularly scheduled meeting.

The September 25, 2019 meeting will be held at: 

Indiana Public Defender Commission
Conference Room
309 W Washington Street, Suite 501
Indianapolis, IN 46204

2019 Quarterly Requests for Reimbursement due dates: Updated Forms Released

Please visit our Forms page and download the latest versions of the Request for Reimbursement forms. Additional resources and worksheets are available on the Reimbursement Request page. 

• 2nd Quarter 2019 due August 14, 2019
• 3rd Quarter 2019 due November 14, 2019

General information on Reimbursement Requests (updated 8/28/18)

Indiana Supreme Court Announces Pay Increase for Prosecutor and Deputy Prosecutor Positions

Chief Public Defenders in counties with offices must be compensated at the same rate as the elected prosecutor. Counties have until January 2020 to match the pay raises prosecutors received on 7/1/19. Please contact Commission staff with any questions.

Prosecutor Salary Table Effective July 1, 2019

Full-Time Prosecutor               $151,137.43
Part-Time Prosecutor (.66)      $  99,750.00
Part-Time Prosecutor (.6)        $  90,682.00
Full-Time Chief Deputy            $113,353.07
Part-Time Chief Deputy (.66)  $  74,812.50
Part-Time Chief Deputy (.6)    $  68,011.50

Complaint About a Judicial Officer

If you have a complaint about your public defender, please contact the local Chief Public Defender or head of your local Public Defender Board to report the issues. If you feel the attorney violated their Rules of Professional Conduct you should contact the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission to formally file your complaint. The Indiana Public Defender Commission cannot prosecute public defender misconduct.

If you believe your judge improperly denied you an attorney and your county receives Commission reimbursement please contact us.  If you believe your judge has violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, you should contact the Judicial Qualifications Commission to file a complaint.