---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-12-6. Assistance of council to public defenders.
collection: code
id: 17-12-6
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-12-6 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-6
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-6.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-6/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=1300
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/17-12-5.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-12-7.md
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 / GEORGIA PUBLIC DEFENDER COUNCIL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-12-6. Assistance of council to public defenders.

(a) The council may assist the public defenders throughout the state in their efforts to provide adequate legal defense to the indigent. Assistance may include:

(1) The preparation and distribution of a basic defense manual and other educational materials;

(2) The preparation and distribution of model forms and documents employed in indigent defense;

(3) The promotion of and assistance in the training of indigent defense attorneys;

(4) The provision of legal research assistance to public defenders; and

(5) The provision of such other assistance to public defenders as may be authorized by law.

(b) The council:

(1) Shall be the fiscal officer for the circuit public defender offices and shall account for all moneys received from each governing authority; and

(2) May collect, maintain, review, and publish in print or electronically records and statistics for the purpose of evaluating the delivery of indigent defense representation in Georgia.

## History

Code 1981, § 17-12-6, enacted by Ga. L. 2003, p. 191, § 1; Ga. L. 2008, p. 846, § 19/HB 1245; Ga. L. 2010, p. 838, § 10/SB 388; Ga. L. 2015, p. 519, § 7-5/HB 328.