The Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(A) To prepare a comprehensive plan for providing legal representation to defendants in the Superior Court of Lake County, Criminal Division in accordance with the standards for indigent defense services adopted by the Indiana Public Defender Commission. The plan shall, at a minimum, provide for:
(1) Legal representation to an indigent defendant at the earliest possible time;
(2) Legal representation to an indigent defendant by the same attorney or attorneys throughout the pendency of a case whenever possible; and
(3) Professional development, continuing legal education, and malpractice insurance for public defenders.
(B) To establish policies and procedures for the provision of competent legal representation for defendants with cases in the Superior Court of Lake County, Criminal Division;
(C) To establish guidelines and procedures for the determination of indigence and for the appropriate reimbursement of the costs of representation;
(D) To recommend an annual operating budget for public defender services in the Superior Court of Lake County, Criminal Division, and to monitor the expenditures of the funds for the services; and
(E) To prepare and submit an annual report to the Lake County Council, the Board of Commissioners, the Superior Court of Lake County, Criminal Division, and the general public on the provision of public defender services under this subchapter.
