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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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GOVERNMENT CODE |
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Title 2. JUDICIAL BRANCH |
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Subtitle F. COURT ADMINISTRATION |
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Chapter 79. TEXAS INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION |
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Subchapter A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
Sec. 79.001. DEFINITIONS
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In this chapter:
(1) "Assigned counsel program" means a system under which private attorneys, acting as independent contractors and compensated with public funds, are individually appointed to provide legal representation and services to a particular indigent defendant accused of a crime or juvenile offense.
(2) "Board" means the governing board of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
(3) "Commission" means the permanent standing committee of the council known as the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
(4) "Contract defender program" means a system under which private attorneys, acting as independent contractors and compensated with public funds, are engaged to provide legal representation and services to a group of unspecified indigent defendants who appear before a particular court or group of courts.
(5) "Council" means the Texas Judicial Council.
(6) "Crime" means:
(A) a misdemeanor punishable by confinement; or
(B) a felony.
(7) "Defendant" means a person accused of a crime or a juvenile offense.
(8) "Executive director" means the executive director of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission.
(9) "Indigent defense support services" means criminal defense services that:
(A) are provided by licensed investigators, experts, or other similar specialists, including forensic experts and mental health experts; and
(B) are reasonable and necessary for appointed counsel to provide adequate representation to indigent defendants.
(10) "Juvenile offense" means conduct committed by a person while younger than 17 years of age that constitutes:
(A) a misdemeanor punishable by confinement; or
(B) a felony.
(11) "Managed assigned counsel program" has the meaning assigned by Article 26.047, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(12) "Office of capital writs" means the office of capital writs established under Subchapter B, Chapter 78.
(13) "Public defender's office" has the meaning assigned by Article 26.044(a), Code of Criminal Procedure.