Opinion ID: 1096180
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Cases Applicable.

Text: (1) Counsel shall be provided to indigent persons in all prosecutions for offenses punishable by imprisonment (or by incarceration in a juvenile corrections institution) including appeals from the conviction thereof. Counsel does not have to be provided to an indigent person in a prosecution for a misdemeanor or violation of a municipal ordinance if the judge, prior to trial, files in the cause a statement in writing that the defendant will not be imprisoned in the event he isif convicted. (2) Counsel may be provided to indigent persons in all proceedings arising from the initiation of a criminal action against a defendant, including postconviction proceedings and appeals therefrom, extradition proceedings, mental competency proceedings, and other proceedings whichthat are adversary in nature, regardless of the designation of the court in which they occur or the classification of the proceedings as civil or criminal. (3) Counsel may be provided to a partially indigent person upon his request provided that the person shall defray that portion of the cost of such representation and the reasonable costs of investigation as he or she is able to without substantial hardship to himselfthe person or histhe person's family, as directed by the court. (4) Indigent as used herein shall mean a person who is unable to pay for the services of an attorney, including costs of investigation, without substantial hardship to himselfthe person or histhe person's family; partially indigent as used herein shall mean a person unable to pay more than a portion of the fee charged by an attorney, including costs of investigation, without substantial hardship to himselfthe person or histhe person's family. (5) The court shall, prior to appointing a public defender,: (i)(A) Iinform the accused that if the public defender is appointed, a lien for the services rendered by the public defender may be imposed pursuant to under section 27.56, Florida Statutes (1979); (ii)(B) Mmake inquiry into the financial status of the accused in a manner not inconsistent with the guidelines established by section 27.52, Florida Statutes (1979). The accused shall respond to the inquiry under oath; (iii)(C) Rrequire the accused to execute an affidavit of insolvency in the format provided by section 27.52, Florida Statutes (1979). (c) Duty of Booking Officer. In addition to any other duty, the officer who commits a defendant to custody has the following duties: (1) HeThe officer shall immediately advise the defendant: (i)(A) of histhe right to counsel; (ii)(B) that if the defendant is unable to pay a lawyer, one will be provided immediately at no charge. (2) If the defendant requests counsel or advises the officer he or she cannot afford counsel, saidthe officer shall immediately and effectively place saidthe defendant in communication with the (office of) Ppublic Ddefender of the circuit in which the arrest was made. (3) If the defendant indicates he or she has an attorney or is able to retain an attorney, the officer shall immediately and effectively place saidthe defendant in communication with histhe attorney or the Lawyer Referral Service of the local bar association. (4) The Ppublic Ddefender of each Jjudicial Ccircuit may upon beinginterview a defendant when contacted by, or on behalf of, a defendant who is, or represents himselfclaims to be, indigent as defined by law, forthwith interview said defendant and. (i)(A) If the defendant is in custody and reasonably appears to be indigent, the Ppublic Ddefender shall tender to him such advice as is indicated by the facts of the case;, seek the setting of a reasonable bail, and otherwise represent suchthe defendant pending a formal judicial determination of indigency. (ii)(B) If the defendant is at liberty on bail or otherwise not in custody, the Ppublic Ddefender shall elicit only such information from the defendant as may be reasonably relevant to the question of indigency and shall immediately seek a formal judicial determination of indigency. If the court finds the defendant indigent, it shall immediately appoint counsel to represent saidthe defendant.