Evaluation of the Private Defender Program 2026

The County Executive’s Office is soliciting proposals from qualified contractors to evaluate the County’s Private Defender Program. Since 1969, the County has contracted with the San Mateo County Bar Association (the “SMCBA”) to provide indigent defense services through the Private Defender Program (the “PDP”). Under this agreement, the SMCBA contracts with approximately 116 attorneys to represent adult defendants and minors in criminal cases, probate and Lanterman-Petris-Short conservatees, along with children and adults in dependency court. As detailed further below, the County seeks a qualified contractor with broad experience in evaluating indigent defense programs, including assessing how the PDP’s performance compares to applicable national and state guidelines and best practices for indigent defense programs. Ultimately, the County expects the selected contractor to prepare a written report detailing its evaluation findings, its methodology of data collection and analysis, and its recommendations for how to improve indigent defense in the County.