This section defines terms used in the Part, including the Board, custody, district office, district public defender, indigent child representation, the Office, the Office of Juvenile Justice, public defender, and the Safe Return Program.
§186.2. Definitions For the purposes of this Part, the following words shall have the following meanings: (1) "Board" means the Louisiana Public Defender Oversight Board. (2) "Custody" means the legal custody of the office of juvenile justice, which follows on commitment by a Louisiana court exercising juvenile jurisdiction to the office of juvenile justice as provided in Titles VII and VIII of the Louisiana Children's Code. (3) "District office" means the office of a district public defender. (4) "District public defender", "chief indigent defender", or "chief public defender" means an attorney under contract with the office to supervise service providers and enforce standards and guidelines within a judicial district or multiple judicial districts. (5) "Indigent child representation" means the providing of legal services to indigent children committed to the custody of the office of juvenile justice pursuant to Title VII and Title VIII of the Louisiana Children's Code. (6) "Office" means the office of the state public defender as created by R.S. 15:146. (7) "Office of juvenile justice" means the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, youth services, office of juvenile justice. (8) "Public defender" or "indigent defender" means an attorney employed by or under contract with the office of the district public defender or a nonprofit organization contracting with the office of the district public defender to provide representation as required by the provisions of the Children's Code. (9) "Safe Return Program" or "the program" means the Safe Return Representation Program administered pursuant to the Part. Acts 2016, No. 617, §2; Acts 2024, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 22, §1, eff. March 20, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 528, §1, eff. June 10, 2024.