The vendor is required to provide the youth defense system in state to identify areas for improvement, data tracking and analysis, proposing system-level changes to improve youth defense, training attorneys, aiding in the revision of standards of practice, and evaluating the advisability of establishing state first youth defense public defender office.
- Survey to be reviewed and approved by the department, and survey formerly system-involved youth and their families, to obtain their input on successes, challenges, and areas for improvement in the youth defense system.
- Draft a survey to be reviewed and approved by the department and survey attorneys who provide youth defense representation; obtain their input on successes, challenges, and areas for improvement in the youth defense system.
- Conduct periodic in-court observation of counsel throughout the state.
- Obtain and track data on all long creek detentions, including but not limited to: demographic data, reason for detention, and length of detention.
- Create and submit to the department quarterly reports on consultant’s findings.
- Propose improvements to state youth defense system.
• Draft revisions to department’s standards of practice for youth defense.
• Convene a group of stakeholders; draft updates and changes to the standards of practice.
1.Submit the revisions to department staff for review; present the revisions to the commission (the commissioners of the state commission on public defense services).
• Aid in the administrative rulemaking process.
- Educate and inform department staff on laws which pose challenges to high-quality youth defense or barriers to access to counsel and possible alternatives.
- Aid in the establishment of the state’s first youth defense public defender office.
- Research youth defense models in other states.
1. Propose guidelines for the creation and operation of a youth defender office, including organizational structure, best practices, and other relevant information.
- Contract Period/Term: 2 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: February 27, 2025