Ionia County Public Defender Office adds social worker Sentinel Staff IONIA — A previous intern at the Ionia County Public Defender Office is its new social worker. The Ionia County Public Defender Office has added social worker Bailey Akers to its office staff, according to a press release. Akers is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University — receiving a bachelor's of social work degree. Akers previously worked as an unpaid intern for both the Muskegon County and Ionia County Public Defender offices. Public defender offices have used social workers since the 1970s to support attorney-client relationships, improve client experiences in court, help mitigate client sentences and assist their specialized clientele with their specialized needs, according to the release.