CA: get what you pay for

Some county officials are starting to wonder whether they're getting value for money from their contract public defender system, yet they stick with the same old bidder:

Board approves defender contract despite problems

People are staying in jail longer than necessary at times because of inefficiencies in public defender services in Amador County, the Amador County Board of Supervisors heard last week. At times, attorneys for indigent inmates don't show up in court when they're needed.

But John A. Barker & Associates of Madera, the firm that handles the county's public defender services, wants a raise and a three-year contract.

"I've been on the board for about 11 years," said Chairman Richard Vinson at last week's board of supervisors meeting. "I think we have renewed this contract every year. I think I have heard the same problems with these folks every year, and I'm not at all convinced these are going to be corrected."

County Administrative Officer Pat Blacklock said the only way the county could have complete control over the situation would be if it started its own public defenders' department...

And with that, the supes approved the contract once again.