Alabama

The state of Alabama funds and administers indigent defense services in adult criminal trials for some court levels. Local governments are responsible for services in other court levels. A state agency provides state services. The state has no commission providing oversight of the agency or of local indigent defense.

The state of Alabama funds and administers all indigent defense services for adult criminal cases in its appellate courts. A state agency administers services. The state has no commission providing oversight of the agency.

  • 67 Counties Primarily State Funded

  • 67 Counties Shared State and Locally Administered

  • 67 Counties with No Commission and Limited Authority

  • 67 Counties State Funded

  • 67 Counties State Administered

  • 67 Counties with No Commission and Limited Authority

The state-funded Office of Indigent Defense Services (OIDS) administers indigent defense services in every court of the state, except for municipal courts where the state requires local governments to fund and administer all services. OIDS services are regionalized by judicial circuit, each managed by a local indigent defense advisory board with the authority to determine the delivery model for the circuit. OIDS can appeal a local board’s decisions to a review panel (made of three attorneys and two judges appointed by diverse authorities), whose decision is final. OIDS services are delivered through public defender offices, appointed private attorneys, and/or contracts with private attorneys, depending upon the local board’s selection.

The OIDS director, appointed by the director of finance, sets standards for the qualification and performance of indigent defense attorneys, among other things, and selects chief public defenders for the circuits with a public defender office. OIDS also provides representation in juvenile delinquency and dependency matters, termination of parental rights cases, children in need of supervision, appellate, and post-conviction cases. For municipal court representation, OIDS has no oversight unless a municipality has chosen to contract with OIDS for services.

The state-funded Office of Indigent Defense Services (OIDS) is responsible for administering indigent defense services for adult appeals. The OIDS director, in consultation with the state’s three courts of appeals, determines the method for providing services, which can be public defender offices, appointed private attorneys, and/or contracts with private attorneys. The director’s decision may be appealed to a review panel (composed of three attorneys and two judges appointed by diverse authorities), whose decision is final.

The OIDS director, appointed by the state’s director of finance, sets standards for the qualification and performance of indigent defense attorneys. OIDS also provides representation in adult trials, juvenile trials and appeals, children in need of supervision cases, and post-conviction cases.

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Questions Open/Close

Who serves on local indigent defense advisory boards?

What are the local indigent defense advisory boards’ powers?

How does state funding work given the reliance on non-governmental alternative revenue?

In which branch of state government does the indigent defense system reside?