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19th Judicial Circuit
Office of the Public Defender

OFFICE AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
  • 1999 JC Penney Golden Rule Award
    • "Some think of the Golden Rule Award as the community service equivalent to the Pulitzer or Academy Award." The Golden Rule Award recognizes that accomplishments by nonprofit organizations would not be possible without caring volunteers. The program rewards both the volunteer and the organization. The Public Defender’s Office Intern Investigator Program and a dedicated volunteer were the recipients of this award.

    1998 & 1999 Davis Productivity Award
     The Davis Productivity Award is administered by the Florida Tax Watch Group and Florida Council of 100. This was awarded in recognition in conjunction with State Attorney Bruce Colton for the "Fast Track" program and related to their shared computer database.

    2002  "Best Place to Work" Award
     The Public Defender’s Office was awarded this by the Chamber of Commerce.

    2002 & 2003 "Law Firm Commendation Award"
    The Public Defender’s Office received this award for their pro bono work above and beyond normal duties.
     
    2003 Davis Productivity Award
    The Public Defender’s Office, Investigator Intern Program, was the recipient of the Davis Productivity Award in 2003. Both the Intern Investigator and Fast track programs have saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and helped streamline the complexities of the Judicial System.

    2003 to 2007 United Way Circle of Honor Award
    The Circle of Honor Award recognizes not only dollar contributions, but also the quality of the agency’s campaign.      

    2009 Davis Productivity Award
    Reduced Recidivism for Offenders with Mental Health Diagnoses, Mental Health Court Advocacy Team. Office of the Public Defender, 19th Judicial Circuit, Fort Pierce. This three-member team provides out-of-jail treatment that focuses on improving offenders’ overall quality of life for those whose criminal conduct is rooted in mental health conditions.
    The team’s Mental Health Court program synchronizes agencies and organizations to help meet mentally ill clients’ needs. More than $1 million worth of jail-housing costs were avoided as 130 program graduates out of 284 clients led crime-free lives.