The funds will be paid over a three-year period and will be instrumental in ensuring that Allegany County meets its obligations to provide counsel at first appearance and effective representation at all stages of a criminal prosecution.
It is anticipated that the Public Defender’s Office will be hiring another attorney as well as an investigative social worker under the terms of the award. The grant application was written to fully fund the salaries, benefits and all related costs of these positions without the addition of county tax dollars.