SB 2584 Summary

• Creates a Violent Crimes Indigent Defense Counsel Division within the Office of the State Public Defender to provide representation to indigent defendants indicted for violent crimes listed in Section 97-3-2.

• Establishes a special Violent Crimes Indigent Defense Counsel Fund in the State Treasury funded by assessments on felony convictions and court education fees.

• Increases the felony assessment from $280.50 to $400.00 per conviction to fund the new division.

• Redirects 25% of State Court Education Fund collections to the Violent Crimes Indigent Defense Counsel Fund instead of the court education fund.

• Full-time attorneys in the division must devote entire time to violent crime cases and cannot engage in other legal practice or lobbying activities; takes effect July 1, 2021.