Tumwater committee recommends renewing court services contracts with Thurston County

The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee recommended the adoption of two agreements with Thurston County for court services. 

The committee reviewed and supported the deals at a meeting on Oct. 7.

The first agreement renews a contract with Thurston County Public Defense to continue providing legal defense for indigent individuals. 

The two-year contract is for a maximum amount of $685,490, which will be used to pay county staff time and any external contracting needed if public defenders must step aside due to conflicts of interest. 

Tumwater Finance Director Troy Niemeyer said the new contract reflects additional costs to comply with a 2025 Washington Supreme Court mandate establishing revised caseload standards for public defenders. 

The revisions lowered the maximum caseloads, revised qualifications and set minimum support staffing requirements for public defense attorneys. 

Niemeyer said Thurston County is phasing in the new requirements over seven to eight years. For 2027, the proposed contract contains a 35 percent cost increase, followed by a 9.4 percent increase in 2028. 

The second agreement extends the city's contract with the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution services. 

The two-year contract is for $552,014, which reflects a 3 percent year-over-year increase in 2027 only. 

It includes a provision so the department can provide civil legal assistance to help city staff update its criminal code.  

The two contracts will be forwarded to the city council’s for review at a meeting on Oct. 20.