Source: https://njdc.info/practice-policy-resources/state-profiles/nevada/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 10:33:39+00:00

Document:
In Nevada, counties with a population over 100,000 are required to have public defender offices. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.010(1). Counties with a population under 100,000 may choose to establish a public defender office. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.010(2). County public defender offices are county-funded. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 260.040. Clark, Washoe, and Elko counties all established county public defender offices. In addition to county offices, there is also a State Public Defender. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 180.010. County public defenders and the State Public Defender are required to represent youth accused of delinquency. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 260.050(2), 180.060(2). In counties with a public defender office, when the public defender has a conflict or otherwise cannot represent a youth, the State Public Defender may be appointed. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 180.060(5).
In 2008, the Nevada Supreme Court entered an order establishing the Nevada Indigent Defense Standards of Performance, which are designed to improve the quality of criminal defense representation in Nevada and provide objective guidelines for the allocation of resources for indigent defense.
In addition to statutes and case law, juvenile court proceedings are governed by court rules. Nevada does not have specific juvenile court rules at the statewide level, but local court rules may apply to juvenile courts in a given jurisdiction.
In Nevada, youth in juvenile court have the right to counsel “at all stages of the proceedings” and “the juvenile court shall advise the child and the parent or guardian of the child” of this right. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62D.030(1). The summons served with a petition shall include notice “of the child’s right to be represented by an attorney at the initial hearing.” Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62C.300(1)(b).
Nevada has no presumption of indigence in juvenile court proceedings. The court must determine if the parent or guardian is indigent, based on the standards listed in the youth right to counsel statute. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62D.030(6). In addition to the specific listed circumstances, the court may determine “the parent or guardian is financially unable, without substantial hardship to the parent or guardian or [their] dependents, to obtain qualified and competent legal counsel” for the youth. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62D.030(6)(b).
“The juvenile court shall appoint an attorney for a child if the parent or guardian of the child does not retain an attorney for the child and is not likely to retain an attorney for the child.” Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62D.030(3). The court can order the parent or guardian to pay all or part of the cost of counsel for the child, based on the parent or guardian’s ability to pay. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62D.030(5).
A youth in Nevada may waive their right to counsel if the waiver “is made knowingly, intelligently, voluntarily and in accordance with any applicable standards established by the juvenile court.” Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62D.030(4)(b). A youth may also waive counsel if a petition is not filed and the youth “is placed under informal supervision” of a probation officer. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62D.030(4)(a).
When and how the court may decide to detain a youth or otherwise place restrictions on the child’s freedom is defined by statute and court rules. In Nevada, for counties whose population is less than 100,000 people, a detention hearing must occur within 24 hours of the child being detained “at a police station, lockup, jail, prison or other facility in which adults are detained or confined,” excluding weekends and holidays, or within 72 hours if the child is in a facility where adults are not detained or confined. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62C.040(1)(b), (d). For counties whose population exceeds 100,000 people, a detention hearing must occur within 6 hours of the child being detained, excluding weekends and holidays, or within 72 hours if the child is in a facility where adults are not detained or confined. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62C.040(1)c)-(d). Additionally, if the child submits a written application, a detention hearing must take place not more than 24 hours later. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62C.040(1)(a).
Provisions for the detention of youth are found in Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 62C.010, 62C.020, 62C.030, 62C.035, 62C.040, and 62C.060.
The legal needs of youth 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. Nevada statutes list no post-disposition proceedings at which youth have a right to counsel. However, a youth’s trial attorney is obligated inform the youth of their right to representation and to appeal. Nev. Indigent Def. Standards of Performance § 5-16(e). Also the trial attorney must ensure that the notice of appeal and request for appellate counsel is filed. Nev. Indigent Def. Standards of Performance § 5-16(f).
Juvenile court can retain jurisdiction over youth until age 21, provided that the offense alleged to have been committed occurred before the youth turned 18. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62A.030(1)(b).
Mandatory Certification: Certification in adult court is mandatory if, after investigation, a youth age 16 or older is accused of sexual assault involving the threatened or use of force or an offense involving a firearm. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62B.390(2).
Discretionary Certification: Certification in adult court is subject to the juvenile court’s discretion if a youth age 14 or older is charged with an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult or if a youth age 13 or older is charged with murder or attempted murder. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62B.390(1).
Statutory Exclusion for certain violent felonies, primarily if the child is age 16 or older. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 62B.330(3).
NJDC has not yet conducted an assessment of the juvenile indigent defense system in Nevada. If you would like to collaborate with NJDC to fundraise for, plan, or engage in an assessment in this state, please contact us.

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