djohnson@mojonews.com
LISBON — A new Ohio House bill which will help the county cover the cost of public defenders was touted this week by county Commissioner Mike Halleck.
The Ohio House Finance Committee recently released House Bill 110, which would put into the upcoming budget enough money to reimburse the counties for about 100 percent of the costs of indigent defense. According to the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, this substitute budget bill provides about $8.3 million and $12.3 million in additional funding for the fiscal years 2022 and 2023, money earmarked to county indigent defense reimbursement.
Halleck noted about 90 percent of the inmates in the county jail require the help of a public defender during their cases. The county has a contract with several attorneys who have formed a group to provide the service. Without that, Halleck estimates the county would pay close to $2 million if the court assigned the attorneys.