Section 12-15-1. – Office created.

§ 12-15-1. Office created. There is created the office of public defender. History of Section.P.L. 1941, ch. 1007, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 12-15-1.

Section 12-15-10. – Confidential nature of financial statement.

§ 12-15-10. Confidential nature of financial statement. The public defender, his or her assistants, and every employee of his or her office is expressly prohibited from divulging to any individual not officially connected with his or her office any information obtained by the public defender, his or her assistants, or any employee of that office […]

Section 12-15-11. – Penalty for false representation.

§ 12-15-11. Penalty for false representation. Whoever knowingly makes a false statement or representation to the public defender, assistants, or any employee of that office to obtain the legal services of the public defender or one of his or her assistants under this chapter, either for himself or herself or for any other person, shall, […]

Section 12-15-2. – Appointment and term of public defender.

§ 12-15-2. Appointment and term of public defender. The governor with the advice and consent of the senate shall appoint a member of the bar of this state who has been admitted to practice law for at least five (5) years to fill the office of the public defender. The public defender shall serve a […]

Section 12-15-3. – Duty to represent indigent defendants.

§ 12-15-3. Duty to represent indigent defendants. It shall be the duty of the public defender to represent and act as attorney for indigent defendants in those criminal cases referred to him or her by the supreme court, by the superior courts, by the district courts, and as are set forth in § 14-1-31, and […]

Section 12-15-4. – Office facilities.

§ 12-15-4. Office facilities. The public defender shall have an office in the Providence County Courthouse which shall be assigned to him or her for his or her use by the Providence county courthouse commission. History of Section.P.L. 1941, ch. 1007, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 12-15-4.

Section 12-15-5. – Powers to accept grants and bequests.

§ 12-15-5. Powers to accept grants and bequests. The public defender shall have the power to apply for and accept grants and bequests of funds from other states, interstate agencies, and independent authorities, and private firms, individuals, and foundations, for the purpose of carrying out his or her lawful responsibilities. The funds shall be deposited […]

Section 12-15-6. – Assistant defenders.

§ 12-15-6. Assistant defenders. The public defender may appoint any assistants that may be deemed necessary, whose power and duties shall be similar to those imposed upon the public defender by law and shall be performed under and by the advice and direction of the public defender. History of Section.P.L. 1941, ch. 1007, § 6; […]

Section 12-15-7. – Appropriations for expenses.

§ 12-15-7. Appropriations for expenses. The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum or sums that it may deem necessary for the payment of the salaries of any clerical assistance that may be deemed necessary and for the payment of office expenses and other actual expenses incurred by the public defender in the performance of […]

Section 12-15-8. – “Indigent defendants” defined.

§ 12-15-8. “Indigent defendants” defined. For the purpose of assisting the public defender or his or her assistants to carry out their duties under this chapter, “indigent defendant,” when used in connection with representation and action as attorney by the public defender or one of his or her assistants in cases before the courts under […]

Section 12-15-9. – Eligibility for assistance.

§ 12-15-9. Eligibility for assistance. Every person who seeks the services of the office of the public defender under this chapter must make affidavit under oath that, after payment of necessary expenses for food, shelter and medical care, he or she does not have sufficient income or assets to enable him or her to retain […]