Wis. Admin. Code Public Defender Board PD 3.015
In order to screen the eligibility of applicants and collect amounts owed as payment for representation, the state public defender may verify information related to eligibility, including social security numbers, income records, and proof of eligibility for income-based programs.
Wis. Admin. Code Public Defender Board PD 3.015
In its November 1994 report, the legislative audit bureau (LAB) recommended that the state public defender implement a system of verifying financial information provided by applicants in the course of indigency determinations. LAB acknowledged that existing procedures were adequate for incarcerated applicants who could not have their spouses provide verification. The state public defender board strongly supports the goals of enhancing the accuracy of indigency determinations and providing representation by the state public defender to only those persons who are eligible. Therefore, the state public defender has adopted s. PD 3.015.