Declaración de incapacidad para contratar abogado y tarifas de servicios públicos

Explicación Simple

Si no puedes pagar un abogado, debes decirlo oficialmente y mostrar lo que tienes. A veces, si tienes algo de dinero, el juez puede pedirte que pagues una parte a la ciudad.

Es como cuando te invitan a una fiesta, pero no tienes dinero para llevar algo. Tienes que decirles que no puedes contribuir, y ellos pueden decidir si te dejan entrar o si necesitas traer algo más tarde.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan fue arrestado y no tiene dinero para un abogado. Él presenta un formulario diciendo que no puede pagar y muestra sus ahorros. El juez ve que tiene algo de dinero, así que le pide que pague una pequeña parte al estado, pero le permite obtener un abogado gratis.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

SECTION 17-3-30. Affidavit of inability to employ counsel; payment of indigent's assets to state; application fee; waiver or reduction of fee; disposition of fee revenues; fund for screening applicants. (A) A person to whom counsel has been provided shall execute an affidavit that he is financially unable to employ counsel and that affidavit must set forth all his assets. If it appears that the person has some assets but they are insufficient to employ private counsel, the court, in its discretion, may order the person to pay these assets to the general fund of the State. (B) A forty dollar application fee for public defender services must be collected from every person who executes an affidavit that he is financially unable to employ counsel. The person may apply to the clerk of court or other appropriate official for a waiver or reduction in the application fee. If the clerk or other appropriate official determines that the person is unable to pay the application fee, the fee may be waived or reduced, provided that if the fee is waived or reduced, the clerk or appropriate official shall report the amount waived or reduced to the trial judge upon sentencing and the trial judge shall order the remainder of the fee paid during probation if the person is granted probation. The clerk of court or other appropriate official shall collect the application fee imposed by this section and remit the proceeds to the state fund on a monthly basis. The monies must be deposited in an interest-bearing account separate from the general fund and used only to provide for indigent defense services. The monies shall be administered by the Office of Indigent Defense. The clerk of court or other appropriate official shall maintain a record of all persons applying for representation and the d