Source: https://njdc.info/practice-policy-resources/state-profiles/nebraska/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 09:55:04+00:00

Document:
Nebraska provides counsel to indigent youth through a county-based system that includes elected public defenders, contract public defenders, and assigned counsel. Counties with populations in excess of 100,000 are required to have elected public defenders. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 23-3401(1). Counties with populations below 35,000 may choose to have appointed public defenders. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 23-3404(1). The judges in one or more judicial districts make the determination of whether a public defender is needed and that “determination shall be certified to the Governor.” Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3910. Youth who are deemed indigent are entitled to counsel by statute. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3915(3). If the attorney appointed by the court has a conflict, another attorney shall be appointed by the court. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3904(1).
Counties fund most of the costs of indigent defense, although the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy provides money and technical assistance to help counties provide effective counsel for indigent youth. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3923.
The Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy is responsible for providing services and resources for indigent defense. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3923. Non-binding standards issued by the Nebraska Supreme Court Commission on Children in the Courts provide that all juvenile indigent defense attorneys should complete a minimum of 16 hours of relevant training every two years.
In addition to statutes and case law, juvenile court proceedings are governed by court rules. In Nebraska, those are the Uniform Separate Rules for Juvenile Court Practice and Procedure. Neb. Ct. R. §§ 6-1701 to 6-1706.
In addition, in parole violation hearings, a youth has a right to “be represented by legal counsel at the expense of the Department of Health and Human Services unless retained legal counsel is available to the juvenile.” Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 43-421(5).
Nebraska has no presumption of indigence in juvenile court proceedings. “[W]hen neither the minor nor [their] parent or guardian is able to afford counsel,” the youth is entitled to court appointed counsel. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3915(3). Generally, to determine indigence, the court must make a “reasonable inquiry” based on an affidavit filed by the person seeking appointment. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3902. Prior to a “defendant’s initial court appearance” the public defender shall make the indigence determination. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3915(3). Indigence is defined as being unable to “retain legal counsel without prejudicing one’s financial ability to provide economic necessities for one’s self or one’s family.” Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-3901(3).
If the court appoints an attorney for a youth and later determines that the parent can afford to pay, the court will order the parent or youth to pay the cost, and refusal to pay may lead to contempt actions. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 43-272(1a).
The court may accept an affirmative waiver of counsel from a youth defendant as long as it is in person, recorded, signed by the youth, and the decision is made “intelligently, voluntarily, and understandingly” Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 43-3102(2). Case law requires a totality of the circumstances inquiry to determine whether a waiver is intelligent, voluntary, and understood. In re Dalton S., 273 Neb. 504, 514 (2007). If the child is already represented by an attorney, the child must consult with the attorney before waiving their right to counsel. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 43-3102(3). Youth cannot waive their right to counsel at a detention hearing, when being transferred to a criminal court, or if they are under the age of 14. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 43-3102(5).
Provisions related to the detention of youth are also found in Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 43-248 to 251.01, 43-253 to 257, 43-259 to 260.01, 43-271, 43-423.
The legal needs of children in the delinquency system rarely end at disposition, and states vary in the way they provide a right to representation on these post-disposition issues. Nebraska statutes list two post-disposition proceedings at which youth have a right to counsel.
Hearings for the purpose of committing the youth to the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center. Ct. R. § 6-1706(B)(1)(m).
Juvenile court can retain jurisdiction over youth until age 19, provided that the offense alleged to have been committed occurred before the youth turned 18. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 43-247(12), 43-245(2).
Despite the existence of juvenile courts, many youth are still tried as adults. In Nebraska, the prosecutor has discretion in determining whether to charge a youth in adult court. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 43-276(1). The prosecutor is required to consider a variety of circumstances in making this determination. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 43-276(1). To be eligible for arraignment in adult court, the youth must have been 14 years old or older when the alleged offense occurred, and must be accused of a felony or traffic offense. Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 29-1816(1)(a)(ii)-(iii).

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