2026 014 RFQ INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVIES JUVENILE COURT

SPALDING COUNTY, GEORGIA
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES - JUVENILE COURT
Issue Date: April 9, 2026
Qualifications Due: May 12, 2026 (see Section 9 - Procurement Schedule)
Submission Type: Hard Copy - One (1) original and three (3) copies. Sealed Submittals
Executive Summary
Spalding County, Georgia is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify experienced and highly
qualified attorneys or law firms to provide indigent defense services in the Juvenile Court of Spalding County.
The County seeks respondents with demonstrated expertise in juvenile law and the capacity to deliver
effective, timely, and legally sufficient representation to juveniles and parents entitled to court appointed
counsel under Georgia law.
-
Respondents must be qualified to provide comprehensive representation across the full spectrum of
Juvenile Court matters, including dependency proceedings, delinquency cases, Child in Need of Services
(CHINS) matters, juvenile probation revocation proceedings, and appeals when ordered by the Court.
Services are expected to extend through all phases of Juvenile Court practice, from initial detention or
shelter care hearings through adjudication, disposition, review, permanency planning, and post disposition
proceedings, ensuring continuity of representation and protection of due process rights.
-
This RFQ emphasizes professional qualifications, operational capacity, and strict adherence to Title 15 of
the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, applicable Juvenile Court rules and standing orders, constitutional
requirements for effective assistance of counsel, and performance standards established by the Georgia
Public Defender Council (GPDC). Of particular importance is demonstrated competency in
trauma informed, developmentally appropriate, and client centered advocacy is demonstrated, as well as
the ability to navigate confidential, sensitive, and time critical matters within a multidisciplinary Juvenile
Court e-nvironment. -
-
In addition to legal competency, Spalding County places strong importance on transparency, accountability,
and performance measurement. Respondents must demonstrate the ability to provide ongoing, data driven
dashboard reporting that summarizes caseload activity, case progression, case outcomes, and appeal
activity. The County also requires administration and reporting of a Juvenile Court appropriate- client
satisfaction survey to assess the quality of representation and client experience, while safeguarding
confidentiality and avoiding coercion. -
Through this RFQ process, Spalding County intends to establish one or more qualified providers capable of
meeting current and future Juvenile Court indigent defense needs. The County seeks partners who will
uphold the integrity of the juvenile justice system, support fair and lawful outcomes for children and families,
and ensure responsible stewardship of public resources while maintaining public confidence in the
administration of juvenile justice.

SPALDING COUNTY, GEORGIA
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES - JUVENILE COURT
Issue Date: April 9, 2026
Qualifications Due: May 12, 2026 (see Section 9 - Procurement Schedule)
Submission Type: Hard Copy - One (1) original and three (3) copies. Sealed Submittals
1. PURPOSE AND INTENT
The Board of Commissioners of Spalding County, Georgia ("County") is soliciting Statements of
Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified attorneys or law firms to provide indigent defense services in the
Juvenile Court of Spalding County.
The intent of this Request for Qualifications is to identify one or more highly qualified, professionally
competent legal service providers capable of delivering effective, timely, and legally sufficient
representation for juveniles and parents entitled to court-appointed counsel under Georgia law.
Services must be delivered in full compliance with:
* Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated
* Applicable Juvenile Court rules and standing orders
* Constitutional requirements for due process and effective assistance of counsel
* Standards established by the Georgia Public Defender Council (GPDC)
The County seeks providers that demonstrate strong Juvenile Court experience, a commitment to
trauma-informed advocacy, ethical independence, operational capacity, and accountability.
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES - JUVENILE COURT INDIGENT DEFENSE
The selected respondent(s) shall provide comprehensive, professional, and timely indigent defense
representation for eligible juveniles and parents in matters before the Juvenile Court of Spalding County.
Services must be delivered in a manner that safeguards constitutional rights, promotes the best interests of
children, complies with applicable law, and supports the effective and efficient operation of the Juvenile
Court.
2.1 Nature of Representation
Respondents shall provide continuous legal representation from the initial appointment through final
disposition of each matter, including post-disposition proceedings and appeals when ordered by the Court.
Representation shall be client-centered, trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and consistent
with the ethical duties of loyalty, confidentiality, diligence, and independent judgment.
2.2 Covered Case Types and Proceedings
Indigent defense services shall include, but not be limited to, representation in the following Juvenile Court
matters:
RFQ - Indigent Defense Services - Juvenile 2 of 6 | Pa ge

A. Dependency Proceedings
Representation of indigent parents and juveniles, as required by statute or court order, in cases involving
allegations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Services shall include:
* Shelter care hearings
* Adjudication hearings
* Dispositional hearings
* Review and permanency hearings
* Termination of parental rights proceedings, where applicable
Counsel must advocate for due process protections, appropriate service plans, family reunification when
legally and factually appropriate, or alternative permanency outcomes consistent with the law and the
child's best interests.
B. Delinquency Proceedings
Representation of juveniles alleged to have committed acts that would constitute criminal offenses if
committed by an adult. Services shall include representation at:
* Detention and probable cause hearings
* Adjudicatory hearings
* Dispositional hearings
* Probation modification or revocation hearings
Counsel shall protect the juvenile's constitutional rights, ensure fair adjudication, and advocate for
developmentally appropriate and legally permissible dispositions.
C. CHINS - Child in Need of Services Proceedings
Representation of juveniles in Child in Need of Services (CHINS) matters, including but not limited to cases
involving:
* Truancy
* Unruly or habitual disobedient behavior
* Runaway behaviors or status offenses
* Court-ordered participation in services or programs
Counsel shall ensure that CHINS proceedings remain non-punitive in nature, that statutory criteria are met,
and that court-ordered interventions are appropriate, proportional, and legally sufficient.
D. Juvenile Probation Revocation Proceedings
Representation of juveniles in hearings alleging violations of probation conditions, including advocacy
regarding continued supervision, modification of terms, or alternative dispositions.
RFQ - Indigent Defense Services - Juvenile 3 of 6 | Pa ge

E. Appeals
Representation in appeals from Juvenile Court orders and judgments, when required by law or specifically
ordered by the Court.
2.3 Required Court Appearances and Case Phases
Respondents shall provide effective representation at all required stages of Juvenile Court proceedings,
including but not limited to:
* Initial detention or shelter care hearings
* Adjudication and fact-finding hearings
* Disposition and sentencing hearings
* Permanency planning, review, and continued custody hearings
* Compliance, modification, or enforcement hearings
2.4 Performance and Service Expectations
Respondents providing services under this RFQ shall be required to:
* Appear timely, prepared, and professionally for all scheduled hearings and court-ordered
proceedings
* Maintain meaningful, timely, and appropriate communication with clients and, where applicable,
parents or guardians
* Conduct thorough case preparation, including review of discovery, independent investigation,
witness preparation, and legal research
* Meet all statutory and court-ordered deadlines
* Exercise sound professional judgment grounded in juvenile law, ethical standards, and best
practices
2.5 Interdisciplinary Coordination and Professional Conduct
Respondents shall demonstrate the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary Juvenile Court
environment and shall:
* Maintain professional and cooperative working relationships with the Court, Clerk's Office, DFCS,
Guardians ad Litem, probation officers, service providers, and court-appointed professionals
* Advocate zealously while maintaining respect for the roles of all Juvenile Court participants
* Safeguard all confidential and sensitive information in accordance with applicable laws, court rules,
and ethical obligations
2.6 Compliance with Performance Standards
All services must fully comply with:
* Georgia Public Defender Council (GPDC) Juvenile Court performance standards
* Applicable statutes, court rules, and standing orders
* Constitutional requirements for effective assistance of counsel
RFQ - Indigent Defense Services - Juvenile 4 of 6 | Pa ge

Failure to meet performance expectations may result in corrective action or contract termination.
3. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY
Respondents must clearly demonstrate compliance with all minimum qualifications below.
3.1 Professional Standing
Respondents must:
* Be licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia
* Possess demonstrated experience in Juvenile Court practice, including dependency and/or
delinquency matters
* Demonstrate familiarity with Georgia juvenile law, court processes, and statutory timetables
3.2 Specialized Competency
Respondents must demonstrate:
* An understanding of trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate representation
* The ability to manage confidential, sensitive, and time-critical cases
* Sound professional judgment when navigating complex family, child-welfare, and court-ordered
services
3.3 Local Presence
Respondents must maintain, or commit to maintaining upon award, a physical office location within the City
of Griffin, Georgia, to ensure accessibility to clients and the Court.
4. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED CONTENT
Each Statement of Qualifications shall be clearly organized and include, at a minimum:
1. Firm or Practice Overview
Legal name, structure, years in operation, and practice focus
o
2. Staffing and Assigned Attorneys
Identification of attorneys proposed
o
Current resumes detailing education, licensure, and Juvenile Court experience
o
3. Relevant Juvenile Court Experience
Description of dependency, delinquency, and related Juvenile Court representation
o
4. Government Contract Experience
Identification of any government contracts within the past five (5) years
o
RFQ - Indigent Defense Services - Juvenile 5 of 6 | Pa ge

5. Case Management and Conflict Procedures
Systems used to manage cases, deadlines, and appointments
o
Processes for identifying and handling conflicts of interest
o
6. Professional References
Three (3) legal references familiar with Juvenile Court or child-welfare representation
o
7. Disclosures
Disclosure of any pending litigation, disciplinary actions, or bar complaints
o
5. COST PROPOSAL - SEPARATE AND SEALED SUBMISSION
In addition to the Statement of Qualifications, respondents must submit a Cost Proposal under the following
conditions:
* Submitted concurrently with the SOQ
* Placed in a separate, sealed envelope clearly marked:
"SEALED COST PROPOSAL - INDIGENT DEFENSE SERVICES (JUVENILE COURT)"
* Cost Proposal shall identify:
Proposed compensation structure
o
All assumptions and inclusions/exclusions
o
Confirmation that all incidental costs are incorporated unless otherwise noted
o
Cost Proposals will remain sealed until completion of the qualifications evaluation.
6. CASELOAD AND PERFORMANCE DATA DASHBOARD REQUIREMENTS
6.1 Intent
Spalding County requires data-driven oversight of indigent defense services to support transparency,
performance evaluation, and policy decision-making.
6.2 Caseload and Case Outcome Dashboard
Respondents must demonstrate the ability to provide a dashboard-style report, updated at least quarterly,
that summarizes:
* Total Juvenile Court cases assigned
* Active cases
* Cases adjudicated or closed
* Average case duration
* Case outcomes, including:
RFQ - Indigent Defense Services - Juvenile 6 of 6 | Pa ge

Dependency dispositions
o
Reunification, permanency, or custody outcomes
o
Delinquency adjudications
o
Probation or disposition results
o
* Appeal activity, where applicable
Respondents shall describe:
* Case management systems used
* Data quality controls
* Reporting format (PDF, Excel, or visual dashboard)
7. CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEY AND DASHBOARD REPORTING
7.1 Intent
The County seeks to measure quality of representation and client experience in addition to case outcomes.
7.2 Survey Administration
The successful respondent shall administer a client satisfaction survey, appropriate to Juvenile Court
settings, addressing:
* Timeliness of attorney contact
* Clarity of communication
* Professionalism and respect
* Availability and responsiveness
* Overall satisfaction with representation
Survey administration shall protect confidentiality and avoid coercion.
7.3 Dashboard Reporting
Survey results shall be presented in a separate dashboard, including:
* Number of surveys distributed
* Number completed
* Aggregate satisfaction results
* Category-specific ratings
* Trend analysis, where available
8. GENERAL CONDITIONS AND COMPLIANCE
All submissions are subject to Spalding County's standard procurement requirements, including:
* Insurance and indemnification provisions
* Affidavit of Acknowledgment and Non-Collusion
* Compliance with O.C.G.A. 13-10-91 (E-Verify)
RFQ - Indigent Defense Services - Juvenile 7 of 6 | Pa ge

* Compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws
All work product produced under any resulting agreement shall be the property of Spalding County.
9. PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE AND TIMING
9.1 Proposed Schedule
Based on a solicitation date of April 9, 2026, and a 30-day response period, the County establishes the
following schedule:
* RFQ Issued: Thursday, April 9, 2026
* Weeks 1-3 (April 9 - April 30):
Written questions accepted. Send questions to Mitzy Campbell at
o
mcampbell@spaldingcounty.com
Questions and answers issued weekly via written addenda
o
* Final Day for Questions: Thursday, April 30, 2026
* Qualification Submissions Due: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 2:00PM. Send to the attention of Mitzy
Campbell, Spalding County Courthouse Annex, 119 E Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223. Please
provide one (1) original and three (3) hard copies. Sealed submittals.
* Public Opening of Submittals
Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 2:00 PM (EST)
Location:
Spalding County Courthouse Annex
119 E Solomon Street
Griffin, GA 30223
RFQ - Indigent Defense Services - Juvenile 8 of 6 | Pa ge