Center for Defense Services Act - Declares the policy of Congress to aid State and local efforts to promote the fair administration of criminal justice in State court proceedings and the uniform provision of defense services to individuals unable to afford counsel.
Establishes in the District of Columbia the Center for Defense Services as a private nonmembership nonprofit corporation. Grants the Center the authority to: (1) make grants and contracts to programs to provide defense services to eligible clients which substantially comply with nationally recognized standards; (2) provide research and technical assistance, and make grants or contracts for demonstration projects to further the purposes of this Act; (3) provide for the review, monitoring, and evaluation of the provision of defense services, whether or not furnished by a recipient of funds from the Center; and (4) make other grants or contracts to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Directs the Center to promulgate regulations and guidelines to carry out this Act, including provision for substantial participation and advice from eligible clients in the decisionmaking process of defense services programs receiving assistance.
Sets forth requirements with respect to grants and contracts made by the Center, such as the authority to require matching funds and a requirement that recipients of funds keep records. Requires the accounts of the Center to be audited annually and the report of the annual audit to be filed with the General Accounting Office.
Introduced in Senate
Referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
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