What will it cost to be represented by the Public Defender Office?
Although it is subject to change, currently Shasta County has established the value of legal services to be sixty dollars ($60) per hour. This does not include associated costs (e.g., investigative services, expert witnesses, travel and lodging costs for witnesses, etc.). Whether or not an individual appointed to the Public Defender will have to reimburse the county for any costs associated with his or her case is strictly determined by the Court at the end of the person’s case. It is the Court that decides whether or not a person is financially capable of reimbursing the county for all costs associated with his or her case. And, there is a statutory procedure in place that permits a person to challenge any order to reimburse the county for legal services and associated costs.
