Assistance of council to public defenders

(a) The council may assist the public defenders throughout the state in their efforts to provide adequate legal defense to the indigent. Assistance may include: (1) The preparation and distribution of a basic defense manual and other educational materials; (2) The preparation and distribution of model forms and documents employed in indigent defense; (3) The promotion of and assistance in the training of indigent defense attorneys; (4) The provision of legal research assistance to public defenders; and (5) The provision of such other assistance to public defenders as may be authorized by law. (b) The council: (1) Shall be the fiscal officer for the circuit public defender offices and shall account for all moneys received from each governing authority; and (2) May collect, maintain, review, and publish in print or electronically records and statistics for the purpose of evaluating the delivery of indigent defense representation in Georgia. History. — Code 1981, § 17-12-6, enacted by Ga. L. 2003, p. 191, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 846, § 19/HB 1245; Ga. L. 2010, p. 838, § 10/SB 388; Ga. L. 2015, p. 519, § 7-5/HB 328.