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Notice of Special Meeting
Special Meeting – January 11, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Agenda: The Commission will hold a special meeting, the primary purpose of which will be to consider moving into a closed session pursuant to §8 of the Open Meetings Act (MCL 15.268).
Contact: Deborah Mitchell, dmitchell@michiganidc.gov, 517-657-3060
MIDC Distributes Initial Payments for Compliance Plan Implementation Statewide
Beginning in November 2017, Michigan’s 134 trial court systems submitted plans for compliance with the MIDC’s first standards for indigent defense delivery services. Methods of delivering indigent defense services vary greatly, but all systems are required to comply with the MIDC’s standards, which cover: training and education of counsel, the initial client interview, use of investigation and experts, and counsel at first appearance and other critical stages.
As of October 2018, every system’s plan and cost analysis for compliance with the standards was approved by the Commission. The approved plans have a total system cost of $124,644,357.52; the local contribution is $37,857,148.17; the MIDC portion of funding is $86,828,428.75. The majority of MIDC funding is for direct services, such as paying attorneys for interviews and appearing at arraignments. Nearly $10 million is dedicated to paying experts and investigators for the defense.
Pursuant to the MIDC Act, once the local indigent defense systems receive funds, they are required to comply with their plan within 180 days. Kicking-off this six-month planning phase, fifty percent of the grant will be disbursed up front so the local systems can get started on compliance right away. The remainder of the grant dollars will be available on a quarterly basis through a reporting and disbursement process. More than half of the systems statewide have received their initial grant award, infusing systems with almost $18 million to ensure that indigent defendants’ sixth amendment rights are being met. The attached charts detail the grants by region (statewide), and the money distributed to each system as of this date.
December 2018 MIDC update
MIDC Guide for Reporting and Distribution of Grant Funds (Revised December 2018)
At the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission meeting on August 21, 2018, the Commission approved for publication the MIDC Guide for Reporting and Distribution of Grant Funds (revised December, 2018) to assist systems with implementation of approved compliance plans. Based on feedback, the compliance reporting information at the end of the Guide has been revised.
Read the Guide for Reporting here.
Stay up to date with information on our Grants page.
MIDC Meeting: Agenda for December 18, 2018
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission will hold a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday December 18, 2018 beginning at 1 p.m. at the Lansing office:
Read the agenda here.
Minutes from past meetings can be found on our website.
For more information, please contact the MIDC office, 517-388-6702.
Position Available: Regional Manager – Western Michigan DEADLINE EXTENDED
Read the full position description with detailed requirements and apply online here.
Counties covered: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, Ottawa, St. Joseph, Van Buren
Summary
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) is seeking a Regional Manager to facilitate the creation of superior systems for representation of indigent clients charged with crimes. Regional Managers provide direction and guidance to indigent defense delivery systems around the state on compliance with MIDC-enacted standards. They serve as the liaisons between local systems and the MIDC.
This challenging and rewarding opportunity will require the skills of a diplomat and knowledge of indigent defense systems and models. Regional Managers must have a thorough working knowledge of the MIDC Act and a wide variety of models of indigent defense delivered locally in Michigan and nationwide. Successful candidates will work with criminal justice stakeholders to design the most appropriate plans for meeting minimum standards for indigent defense in a particular county or system.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Work Location:
The ideal candidate should be based in a county as indicated in the position description.
Periodic travel to the MIDC Office in Lansing, Michigan is expected.
For applicants not currently residing or working in the designated region: please describe in your cover letter your connection to the area or other reason for interest in the region.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED: January 4, 2019 by 5:00 p.m.
For more information about the position and to apply online click here.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
LARA Accepting Comments on Next Standards for Indigent Defense
Read the press release issued by LARA here.
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC), housed in the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), has submitted proposed minimum standards for the delivery of indigent defense services to LARA and is seeking public comment. The minimum standards involve independence from the judiciary, caseload controls, qualification and review of attorneys taking appointed cases and attorney compensation. Following a 30-day public comment period, LARA Director Shelly Edgerton will thoroughly review the information provided and a decision will be made on whether to approve the standards.
On January 4, 2017, Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation to ensure the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission meets state constitutional obligations and maintains independence from the judiciary while continuing its work to maintain a fair indigent criminal defense system in Michigan. The legislation moved the commission from the judicial branch to LARA.
This set of minimum standards was approved by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission on August 21, 2018, and referred to LARA.
Details of each standard can be found on the MIDC’s website.
Pursuant to MCL 780.985 as amended, opposition to a proposed minimum standard should be submitted before December 14, 2018, by email to comments@michiganidc.gov. All comments will be posted on the MIDC website.
Every indigent defense delivery system in Michigan is required to submit a plan for compliance with the standards together with a cost analysis to the MIDC. If the standards are approved, these submissions must be made to the MIDC within 180 days from the date of approval.
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission was established to create and enforce uniform public defense standards throughout the state. Its members are appointed by the Governor with recommendation of the Legislature, Supreme Court, the State Bar, and representing interests from the criminal justice system and the general public.
Read the press release issued by LARA here.
Position Available: Regional Manager – Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair Counties
Read the full position description with detailed requirements and apply online here.
Counties covered: Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair
Summary
The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) is seeking a Regional Manager to facilitate the creation of superior systems for representation of indigent clients charged with crimes. Regional Managers provide direction and guidance to indigent defense delivery systems around the state on compliance with MIDC-enacted standards. They serve as the liaisons between local systems and the MIDC.
This challenging and rewarding opportunity will require the skills of a diplomat and knowledge of indigent defense systems and models. Regional Managers must have a thorough working knowledge of the MIDC Act and a wide variety of models of indigent defense delivered locally in Michigan and nationwide. Successful candidates will work with criminal justice stakeholders to design the most appropriate plans for meeting minimum standards for indigent defense in a particular county or system.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Work Location:
The ideal candidate should be based in a county as indicated in the position description.
Periodic travel to the MIDC Office in Lansing, Michigan is expected.
For applicants not currently residing or working in the designated region: please describe in your cover letter your connection to the area or other reason for interest in the region.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: November 5, 2018 by 5:00 p.m.
For more information about the position and to apply online click here.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Governor Makes Reappointments to Commission
Governor Rick Snyder reappointed Judge Thomas Boyd of Mason, Nancy J. Diehl of Detroit, Judge James Fisher of Grand Rapids (retired), and Gary Walker of Marquette to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. They will serve four-year terms expiring April 1, 2022.
Read the Governor’s press release here.
Read about all of our Commissioners here.
MIDC Offers Webinars for Grant Distribution
All funding units are encouraged to join the MIDC staff for an informational webinar about grant distributions. These online events will be organized by region. Stay up to date on our Grants page which has links to the online events and materials for the webinar.
Contact your Regional Manager for additional information, 517-657-3066.
MIDC to Begin Distributing Grant Funds in October; Will Submit Next Standards to LARA
The MIDC regional and field staff have been hard at work readying the local systems for their upcoming plan implementations. Starting this October, the beginning of state’s new fiscal year, funding will become available for all approved MIDC compliance plans. Pursuant to the MIDC Act, once the local indigent defense systems receive funds, they are required to comply with their plan within 180 days. Kicking-off this six-month planning phase, twenty percent of the grant will be disbursed up front so the local systems can get started right away. The remainder of the grant dollars will be available on a quarterly basis through a reimbursement process.
To aid in the implementation process, MIDC grant budget, reporting and management guidelines are now available on the MIDC website. Training webinars on these MIDC grant guidelines will be conducted during the week of September 10th. Be sure to check MIDC’s calendar for exact times and additional information. And as always, the MIDC staff will be continuously available to assist with implementation and local systems should expect to work with their regional managers on the next steps.
Standards 5-8
During the August MIDC meeting, the Commissioners approved final versions of the next set of indigence defense compliance standards. These standards address the need for independence from the judiciary (Standard 5), defender workload limitations (Standard 6), qualification and review of attorneys accepting assignments in adult criminal cases (Standard 7), and attorney compensation (Standard 8). Much consideration was given to the public comments received over the past year. For example, based on feedback from numerous public defenders, Standard 7 was amended to broaden the qualifications necessary for attorneys to handle high-severity felony and life offense cases. The full set of the final standards can be found on MIDC’s website.
Per the MIDC Act, the updated standards will now be sent to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) for final approval. Once LARA approves the new standards, the clock begins on the next round of compliance planning as local systems will have 180 days to submit a plan and cost analysis for approval.
MIDC Caseload Study
The MIDC is responsible for developing a Michigan-specific caseload standard that will address maximum recommended caseloads for attorneys who practice indigent defense. To develop these numbers, we are in the midst of a three-part process that will culminate with a session called a Delphi Panel, where we gather approximately 30 experts in Lansing for a full day to synthesize and finalize the caseload numbers. The Delphi Panel is arguably the most important part of the caseload development process, as the output of this session will be used to inform the MIDC’s recommended maximum caseload standards. The MIDC is looking for participants for the Panel, which will take place in Lansing on Thursday, September 13th. If you are interested, please contact MIDC’s Research Director, Jonah Siegel at jsiegel@michiganidc.gov.
The MIDC will meet next on October 16, 2018. The Commission meets at 1:00 p.m. in Lansing for and all meetings are open to the public. Information about upcoming meetings, or agendas and minutes from prior meetings can be found on our website. We will continue to post progress about our work and any other developments about indigent defense in Michigan on our website as well.