---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-12-24. Financial eligibility for indigent defense services representation; operation of public defender’s office.
collection: code
id: 17-12-24
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-12-24 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-24
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-24.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-24/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c04ccfe_0#page=1318
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-23.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / LEGAL DEFENSE FOR INDIGENTS / PUBLIC DEFENDERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-12-24. Financial eligibility for indigent defense services representation; operation of public defender’s office.

(a) The circuit public defender, any other person or entity providing indigent defense services, or the system established pursuant to Code Section 17-12-80 shall determine if a person or juvenile arrested, detained, or charged in any manner is an indigent person entitled to representation under this chapter.

(b) The circuit public defenders shall administer and coordinate the day-to-day operations of their respective offices and shall supervise the assistant public defenders and other staff serving in the office.

(c) The circuit public defender shall keep and maintain appropriate records, which shall include the number of persons represented, including cases assigned to other counsel based on conflict of interest; the offenses charged; the outcome of each case; the expenditures made in carrying out the duties imposed by this chapter; and any other information requested by the council.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-12-24, enacted by Ga. L. 2003, p. 191, § 1; Ga. L. 2006, p. 752, § 7/SB 503; Ga. L. 2008, p. 846, § 31/HB 1245.