Benton County Employment
- Please see Benton County Job Opening for staff openings.
Contracts
All contracts offered by Benton County OPD do comply with the Standards for Public Defense as adopted by the Washington State Supreme Court. Once a contract recipient starts to provide public defense services on behalf of Benton County, then they are personally and professionally responsible for continued compliance with the same standards.
Public Defense Attorney Contract
Application Requirements - See District Court RFQ and Superior Court RFQ for more information:
- Member of Washington State Bar Association in good standing;
- No bar sanctions within the past three years;
- May not have been found by a court to have rendered ineffective assistance more
- than twice in the past 5 years;
- Must meet minimum public defense standards applicable to all public defenders as set out in Washington State Supreme Court rules applicable to public defense attorneys;
- Must be able to meet with clients in the Tri-Cities area regularly as needed; and,
- Must be able to meet with clients incarcerated in the Benton County Jail regularly
- as needed whether in person or via video visitation.
Public Defense Interpreter Contract
Application Requirement - Interpreter RFQ for more information:
- Court certified for interpreting by Washington State Administrative Office of the Court.
- One year of direct experience in providing interpreting services for use in legal proceedings.
- Have not been a party to an agreement to provide criminal defense-related Interpreter services that was terminated due to Interpreter's conduct, errors, or omissions.
- Have not been censured, admonished, or otherwise formally disciplined for past conduct or behavior as an Interpreter that would negatively reflect on Interpreter's duty and ability to effectively and competently render services hereunder.
- No complaints or lawsuits filed and/or pending against him/her relating to, or arising from, Interpreter's past conduct or behavior as an Interpreter.