§ 12-15-9. Eligibility for assistance.
Every person who seeks the services of the office of the public defender under this
chapter must make affidavit under oath that, after payment of necessary expenses for
food, shelter and medical care, he or she does not have sufficient income or assets
to enable him or her to retain counsel, nor is there any one to whom he or she is
entitled to look for support who has that income or assets. The public defender, on
his or her own instigation or at the request of a referring court, may require a further
financial statement, may require relevant documents, and may conduct any investigation
he or she d
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§ 12-15-9. Eligibility for assistance.
Every person who seeks the services of the office of the public defender under this
chapter must make affidavit under oath that, after payment of necessary expenses for
food, shelter and medical care, he or she does not have sufficient income or assets
to enable him or her to retain counsel, nor is there any one to whom he or she is
entitled to look for support who has that income or assets. The public defender, on
his or her own instigation or at the request of a referring court, may require a further
financial statement, may require relevant documents, and may conduct any investigation
he or she deems appropriate. If the public defender, after examination and investigation
of the financial statement, is satisfied that the person submitting it is an indigent
defendant, the public defender or one of his or her assistants shall defend the person;
provided, that if the public defender is satisfied that the person is not an indigent
defendant, he or she shall notify the court which referred the person to the public
defender's office of the determination that the person is not an indigent defendant.