# Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-102: 47-1-102 Purpose

> Montana · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-102

## Section

- **Citation:** Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-102
- **Heading:** 47-1-102 Purpose
- **Jurisdiction:** Montana
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MT Code / Title 47 / Chapter 1 / Part 1 / Section 47-1-102

## Text

47-1-102 . Purpose. The purposes of this chapter are to:

(1) establish a statewide public defender system to provide effective assistance of counsel to indigent criminal defendants and other persons in civil cases who are entitled by law to assistance of counsel at public expense;

(2) ensure that the system is free from undue political interference and conflicts of interest;

(3) provide that public defender services are delivered by qualified and competent counsel in a manner that is fair and consistent throughout the state;

(4) establish a system that utilizes state employees, contracted services, or other methods of providing services in a manner that is responsive to and respective of regional and community needs and interests;

(5) ensure that adequate public funding of the statewide public defender system is provided and managed in a fiscally responsible manner; and

(6) ensure that clients of the statewide public defender system pay reasonable costs for services provided by the system based on the clients' financial ability to pay.

## Nearby sections

- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-101 47-1-101 Short title](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-101.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-102 47-1-102 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-102.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-103 47-1-103 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-103.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-104 47-1-104 Statewide system -- structure and scope of services -- assignment of counsel at public expense](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-104.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-105 47-1-105 Director -- duties -- report -- standards for public defender services qualification and training](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-105.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-111 47-1-111 Eligibility -- determination of indigence -- rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-111.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-119 47-1-119 Central services division -- responsibilities -- contracted services -- training -- department of administration to support](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-119.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-125 47-1-125 Reports](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-125.md)
- [Mont. Code Ann. § 47-1-126 47-1-126 Terminated](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-126.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MT_T47_C1_P1_S47-1-102. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.