In the 2024 Legislative Session, the CCAA received statutory authority to launch a 4-year, 12-county misdemeanor reimbursement pilot program. The statute requires the CCAA to use existing funds and prohibits the agency from seeking additional funds for the pilot until it is completed.
The CCAA received a 4% budget cut in the 2025 legislative session. In response, the pilot was scaled back to 18-months and 9 counties. Both the length of the pilot and the participating counties will be re-evaluated at the end of the 18-month period.
For more details, click on the links below to read the CCAA’s press release about this decision, and to read comprehensive reporting from the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Primarily due to cuts made in the recently passed state budget, the Commission will not require salary increases for Chief PDs or Chief Deputies for 2026. The Chief Justice, in coordination with the State Budget Director, sets yearly salaries for judicial officers and prosecutors. The CCAA then requires counties to match those salaries. No changes were made for 2026.
As a reminder, the CCAA sets minimum salaries for the Chief and Chief Deputy PD positions, but counties are fully authorized to increase those salaries. The CCAA will reimburse 40%.
Questions about this or other financial matters may be directed to Jennifer Pinkston.
After midnight on the final day of the legislative session, statutory language was inserted in a conference committee report to establish a law school scholarship in exchange for 5-years of service as either a deputy public defender or prosecutor.
The program will be managed by the Commission on Higher education. Unfortunately, due to the revised revenue forecast that also led to agency budget cuts, this scholarship was not funded. However, language was inserted to permit the program to receive philanthropic funds.
A working group has been established to explore philanthropic funding opportunities. If you have ideas or are willing to assist, please reach out to Andrew Cullen.
At the request of the county courts, the Marshall County Board of Commissioners has established a local public defender board. This is the first step to make the county eligible for the CCAA’s reimbursement program.
The County Public Defender Board (consisting of one appointee by the CCAA and one each by the county courts and commissioners) will work with the CCAA to establish a “Comprehensive Plan for Indigent Defense Services,” which establishes the system to be used by the county public defense system. Once that plan is approved by the CCAA, reimbursement can begin.
With the addition of Marshall County, 74 of Indiana’s 92 counties are now eligible for quarterly reimbursement, with 68 counties currently seeking quarterly reimbursement.
Questions about the process of joining the CCAA’s reimbursement program may be directed to Derrick Mason or Andrew Falk.
Each quarter several counties are required to participate in a financial desk audit of the reimbursement request. The audit helps to enhance the accuracy of overall reporting and to clarify expense categorization. A notification email is sent in the quarter that each county has been selected, and the audit documentation is due 45 days after the end of the quarter. This is the same due date as the reimbursement request submission.
Documentation for the audit should include reports showing detailed information of each transaction (vendor name, amount and description of expense) and payroll information including benefits (if applicable) by employee. We also request Supplemental Fund use documentation for the previous four (4) quarters.
Reports most helpful to us are titled Transaction History Report by Date Span, Combined Ledger by Location (All Detail) within Date Span, and Cash Ledger by Fund with Date Span. The examples below are title headers of these types of reports.
If possible, please have the auditor generate these reports in Excel. All documents should be sent to information@ccaa.in.gov or uploaded to your Teams channel. If you would like a Teams channel created for your county, please email Jennifer Pinkston. Additional documents (such as a random sampling of invoices) may be requested by the CCAA auditor. Desk audits allow us to ensure you include all eligible expenses to maximize your reimbursement.
If you have any questions or would like more information on our desk audit process, please contact our Program Support Specialist, Tristan Snell.
Click HERE to read the recently released June/July Newsletter from the Association of Indiana Counties where the CCAA staff have penned an article about the importance of the public defense system to the state.
Due to a statutory change affecting state agencies, starting July 1, CCAA meetings will be recorded and posted on our website
. We will use a webinar format on the Zoom platform that will only show CCAA members on the screen. However, the public is encouraged to use the “raise your hand” function to ask questions or offer comments about matters discussed and pending at the meeting.
If you experience any technical difficulties during the meeting, please call the CCAA main line at 317-233-6908 or email Emily Hughey.
CCAA Annual Training is scheduled for October 16th, 2025 from 9AM-3PM. More details to come...
Local Public Defender Board Appointments
The CCAA welcomes the following new and/or re-appointed members to local Public Defender Boards. Their 3-year terms were approved at the recent CCAA meeting.
Mike Bottomley, Fayette County
Mitzie Badger, Sullivan County
Libby Billue, White County
At the next meeting, the CCAA will consider appointments or re-appointments to the following local boards:
Remaining 2025 Reimbursement Request Due Dates and Commission Meeting Dates
Reimbursement Requests Due Date
Commission Meeting Date
August 14
September 24
November 14
December 17
Commission meetings begin at 2 p.m. Eastern and comply with the Indiana Open Door Law (IC § 5-14-1.5). Meetings are held at the Commission Office (101 W. Ohio Street, Suite 1800, Indianapolis, IN, 46204) unless otherwise stated on the meeting notice and agenda. The public is invited to attend in person or via electronic means permitted under IC § 5-14-1.5-3.6 excluding any Executive Sessions that may be scheduled as permitted under IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1. To view the Commission’s Electronic Meeting Policy, click HERE.
Notice of Executive Sessions & meetings will be posted at the entrance to the Commission Office (101 W. Ohio St., Suite 1800, Indianapolis, IN, 46204) and will be posted on the front page of the Commission's website under "News & Announcements" at least 48 hours in advance. Meeting materials and agendas will be posted at least 24 hours in advance.
If you have any questions about the Commission meetings, contact Derrick Mason
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Indiana Commission on Court Appointed Attorneys
101 W Ohio, Suite 1800, Indianapolis, IN, 46204 US
