Chapter 10.101 RCW Public Defense Improvement Funds

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Chapter 10.101.050 RCW: Indigent Defense Services establishes a state-funded grant program to improve public defense services in cities and counties. Grant funds are to be used to make appreciable, demonstrable improvements in the delivery of public defense services. Each year, OPD distributes more than one million dollars to cities for making and/or sustaining improvements to public defense. Cities may apply for these grant funds under a competitive program described in Chapter 10.101 RCW. Each county that applies for Chapter 10.101 RCW funds receives a pro-rata share of available state funding, based on the formula and other criteria in RCW 10.101.070.


1. Apply

🎥 10.101 Application Video Guide

2026 County Application Last revised: 07/16/2025

2026 - 2027 City Application Last revised: 06/25/2025

 

2. Submit 

🕘Due Date: July 25, 2025. OPD is not accepting application at this time.​​

 MFT.wa.gov ►   

MFT Submission Instructions

 

3. Review

Permitted Uses of State Funds Last Revised: 10/09/2025

City Application Evaluation Factors

 

4. Disbursement

2026 10.101 grant award funds will be disbursed in January 2026.

Increase in RCW 10.101 Funds Statement

County Funding Disbursement Estimate for 2026
 


County Recipients
 

How is the county distribution determined?
The amounts for each county may differ from prior year funding amounts primarily due to a county's increase or decrease in felony filings. Felony filings are a significant factor in the funding distribution formula established in RCW 10.101.070.

County Funds Distribution:

Calendar Year 2026

Adams - $57,533

Asotin - $59,591

Benton - $365,433

Chelan - $153,830

Clallam - $128,834

Clark - $968,645

Columbia - $29,741

Cowlitz - $263,343

Douglas - $83,352

Ferry - $27,344

Franklin - $188,281

Garfield - $20,622

Grant - $177,483

Grays Harbor - $148,212

Island - $116,030

Jefferson - $60,623

King - $2,551,509

Kitsap - $386,186

Kittitas - $106,443

Klickitat - $46,530

Lewis - $218,418

Lincoln - $33,827

Mason - $123,493

Okanogan - $92,168

Pacific - $50,270

Pend Oreille - $41,199

Pierce - $1,265,945

San Juan - $36,451

Skagit - $280,079

Skamania - $35,045

Snohomish - $882,499

Spokane - $1,084,785

Stevens - $122,061

Thurston - $505,202

Wahkiakum - $24,546

Walla Walla - $127,250

Whatcom - $436,108

Whitman - $86,199

Yakima - $525,392

Calendar Year 2025

Adams - $26,125

Asotin - $31,561

Benton - $184,809

Chelan - $78,881

Clallam - $61,823

Clark - $441,803

Columbia - $15,170

Cowlitz - $135,056

Douglas - $39,080

Ferry - $14,924

Franklin - $84,474

Garfield - $10,488

Grant - $87,946

Grays Harbor - $76,592

Island - $54,677

Jefferson - $32,471

King - $1,219,718

Kitsap - $177,170

Kittitas - $51,315

Klickitat - $21,894

Lewis - $111,691

Lincoln - $17,145

Mason - $61,303

Okanogan - $48,601

Pacific - $26,271

Pend Oreille - $20,591

Pierce - $638,449

San Juan - $17,575

Skagit - $127,772

Skamania - $17,447

Snohomish - $451,616

Spokane - $554,996

Stevens - $54,212

Thurston - $240,234

Wahkiakum - $12,579

Walla Walla - $60,784

Whatcom - $213,104

Whitman - $41,306

Yakima - $260,021 

Calendar Year 2024

Adams - $30,704

Asotin - $30,299

Benton - $184,425

Chelan - $81,079

Clallam - $69,748

Clark - $439,905

Columbia - $15,133

Cowlitz - $160,182

Douglas - $40,188

Ferry - $14,192

Franklin - $93,790

Garfield - $10,768

Grant - $92,818

Grays Harbor - $78,337

Island - $56,740

Jefferson - $29,406

King - $1,232,875

Kitsap - $196,751

Kittitas - $52,170

Klickitat - $22,403

Lewis - $103,435

Lincoln - $19,204

Mason - $62,656

Okanogan - $48,919

Pacific - $26,856

Pend Oreille - $21,111

Pierce - $640,504

San Juan - $18,557

Skagit - $129,604

Skamania - $18,404

Snohomish - $436,528

Spokane - $486,164

Stevens - $47,147

Thurston - $216,629

Wahkiakum - $12,216

Walla Walla - $63,687

Whatcom - $213,905

Whitman - $42,353

Yakima - $281,884

Calendar Year 2023

Adams - $27,28

Asotin - $28,114

Benton - $188,894

Chelan - $77,326

Clallam - $67,671

Clark - $394,068

Columbia - $12,366

Cowlitz - $154,932

Douglas - $38,162

Ferry - $14,582

Franklin - $82,562

Garfield - $11,171

Grant - $92,111

Grays Harbor - $77,689

Island - $54,996

Jefferson - $32,375

King - $1,223,358

Kitsap - $186,106

Kittitas - $50,597

Klickitat - $22,499

Lewis - $103,722

Lincoln - $18,412

Mason - $64,058

Okanogan - $48,532

Pacific - $28,879

Pend Oreille - $18,880

Pierce - $691,483

San Juan - $17,087

Skagit - $127,668

Skamania - $17,087

Snohomish - $429,925

Spokane - $550,552

Stevens - $48,757

Thurston - $219,247

Wahkiakum - $12,200

Walla Walla - $62,860

Whatcom - $200,639

Whitman - $39,672

Yakima - $284,493

Calendar Year 2022

Adams - $27,864

Asotin - $26,109

Benton - $201,069

Chelan - $87,228

Clallam - $68,725

Clark - $388,023

Columbia - $13,352

Cowlitz - $157,477

Douglas - $40,758

Ferry - $15,625

Franklin - $93,122

Garfield - $11,274

Grant - $83,018

Grays Harbor - $74,734

Island - $57,719

Jefferson - $35,902

King - $1,242,969

Kitsap - $212,148

Kittitas - $50,664

Klickitat - $22,241

Lewis - $117,669

Lincoln - $18,487

Mason - $67,070

Okanogan - $49,888

Pacific - $29,738

Pend Oreille - $22,170

Pierce - $554,420

San Juan - $16,966

Skagit - $121,256

Skamania - $17,746

Snohomish - $443,209

Spokane - $572,037

Stevens - $56,250

Thurston - $227,494

Wahkiakum - $12,563

Walla Walla - $65,973

Whatcom - $209,111

Whitman - $48,093

Yakima - $261,515

City Recipients
 

How are the city awards determined?
Population, poverty levels, case filings, attorney caseloads, a commitment to improving public defense, providing a clear grant funds use proposal, and a good track record with reporting compliance with OPD, if applicable.

City Funds Distribution:

Calendar Years 2026 and 2027

Aberdeen - $118,000

Asotin - $4,000

Auburn - $50,930

Battle Ground - $40,930

Burien - $20,930

Chehalis - $30,000

Cheney - $36,000

Des Moines - $30,930

East Wenatchee - $40,930

Elma - $22,935

Everett - $90,930

Federal Way - $50,930

Fife - $55,000

Granger - $16,930

Hoquiam - $45,930

Kelso - $100,000

Kent - $60,930

Lacey - $50,930

Lake Stevens / Arlington - $54,000

Lakewood - $69,930

Longview - $105,000

Monroe - $29,875

Mount Vernon - $50,930

Mountlake Terrace - $16,500

Oak Harbor - $45,930

Olympia - $148,000

Pacific - $22,930

Pasco - $100,550

Port Orchard - $24,000

Redmond - $20,930

Seatac - $40,930

Shelton - $85,930

Spokane - $186,000

Spokane Valley - $40,930

Sunnyside - $132,000

Tacoma - $94,930

Toppenish - $30,930

Tukwila - $80,930

Union Gap - $35,930

Vancouver - $100,000

Yakima - $150,000

Calendar Years 2024 and 2025

Aberdeen - $59,000

Asotin - $2,000

Battle Ground - $14,000

Bremerton - $17,000

Burien - $10,000

Chehalis - $17,500

Cheney - $15,000

College Place - $4,000

Covington - $3,000

East Wenatchee - $20,000

Everett - $45,000

Fife - $22,500

Granger - $8,000

Hoquiam - $22,500

Kelso - $55,000

Lacey - $8,000

Lake Stevens/Arlington - $18,000

Lakewood - $34,000

Longview - $70,000

Medical Lake - $2,000

Monroe - $11,000

Olympia - $74,000

Pasco - $50,275

Port Orchard - $12,000

Shelton - $39,000

Spokane - $93,000

Spokane Valley - $19,500

Sunnyside - $66,000

Tacoma - $47,000

Tukwila - $37,500

Union Gap - $16,500

Vancouver - $30,000

Yakima - $86,000

Calendar Years 2022 and 2023

Aberdeen - $59,000

Airway Heights - $13,000

Asotin - $2,000

Battle Ground - $12,000

Bremerton - $17,000

Burien - $8,000

Chehalis - $14,500

Cheney - $15,000

East Wenatchee - $18,000

Everett - $45,000

Fife - $22,500

Granger - $7,000

Hoquiam - $21,000

Kelso - $55,000

Kent - $25,250

Lacey - $8,000

Lake Stevens/Arlington - $18,000

Lakewood - $34,000

Longview - $70,000

Medical Lake - $2,000

Monroe - $11,000

Olympia - $65,000

Pasco - $40,000

Port Orchard - $12,000

Shelton - $34,000

Spokane - $93,000

Spokane Valley - $19,500

Sunnyside - $66,000

Tacoma - $47,000

Toppenish - $16,000

Tukwila - $37,500

Union Gap - $20,000

Yakima - $86,000

Calendar Years 2020 and 2021

Aberdeen - $122,000

 Airway Heights - $28,000

 Battle Ground - $28,000

 Bellingham - $84,000

 Blaine - $8,000

 Bremerton - $36,000

 Chehalis - $20,000

 Cheney - $32,000

 East Wenatchee - $40,000

 Everett - $96,000

 Ferndale - $14,000

 Fife - $50,000

 Granger - $16,000

 Hoquiam - $50,000

 Kelso - $120,000

 Kent - $24,000

 Lake Stevens / Arlington - $44,000

 Lakewood - $74,000

 Longview - $163,000

 Medical Lake - $5,000

 Monroe - $24,000

 Olympia - $139,000

 Port Orchard - $28,000

 Shelton - $50,000

 Spokane - $193,950

 Spokane Valley - $40,600

 Sunnyside - $120,000

 Tacoma - $100,000

 Tukwila - $80,000

 Vancouver - $45,000

 Walla Walla - $25,000

 Yakima - $187,000

Calendar Year 2019

Aberdeen - $25,000

Airway Heights - $20,000

Battle Ground - $15,000

Bellingham - $40,000

Black Diamond - $4,000

Bremerton - $16,000

Cheney - $15,000

Fife - $10,000

Granger - $19,000

Hoquiam - $25,000

Kelso - $70,000

Lake Stevens / Arlington - $25,000

Lakewood - $40,000

Longview - $81,500

Medical Lake - $2,500

Monroe - $10,000

Olympia - $65,000

Pasco - $20,000

Port Orchard - $14,000

Shelton - $50,000

Spokane - $87,500

Spokane Valley - $20,300

Sunnyside - $50,000

Tacoma - $48,700

Tukwila - $37,000

Union Gap - $40,000

Vancouver - $52,000

Westport - $3,500

Yakima - $88,500

Yelm - $15,000


 Policies and Standards

Supreme Court Order: Public Defense Caseload Standards Last revised: 06/09/2025

Attorney Time Reporting Policy

Attorney Training Policy

 


FAQ

What factors are considered when city applications are reviewed?
  • Local poverty rates
  • Number of criminal cases filed
  • Percentage of cases assigned to public defenders
  • Public defense attorney compensation
  • Public defense caseloads
  • Whether the proposed use of funds is allowed
  • Whether the applicant is currently receiving a grant and showing real improvements
  • Whether the applicant will match state grant funds with new local funding
What factors are considered when county applications are reviewed?

Population and Felony filings are a significant factor in the funding distribution formula established in RCW 10.101.070.

Why did my county funding amount change from last year?

The amounts for each county may differ from prior year funding amounts primarily due to a county's increase or decrease in felony filings.

What can these funds be used for?
  • Extra investigators or expert witnesses
  • Starting a local public defense office
  • Having an expert review attorney performance
  • A coordinator to manage public defense services
  • Higher pay for public defense attorneys
  • Legal help at first court appearances
  • More attorneys to reduce caseloads
  • Social workers to support attorneys and clients
  • Training for public defense attorneys
  • Evaluations for sentencing options (like drug treatment)
  • Interpreter services for attorney-client meetings (not courtroom interpreters)
  • Other uses that improve public defense, if OPD approves
What are some uses NOT permitted?
  • Replacing city or county money already used for public defense
  • General billing or administrative costs for running the program
  • Indigency screening (checking if someone qualifies for a public defender)
  • Technology or equipment used by the court or government offices (unless it's only for public defense)
  • Time spent by city or county attorneys, unless they're specifically reviewing attorney performance as noted in the allowed uses
Can cities apply even if they haven't in the past?

Yes. Cities are encouraged to apply, even if they have not previously participated in the program.

I checked with some of our county's cities and they’re not applying for these funds. Can the county apply for their share? Does that mean there’s more money available?

No, you can’t apply for another city’s share of funds. City public defense funding is discretionary, not based on a fixed formula, so unused funds from one city don’t automatically transfer to another.
County funding, on the other hand, is distributed by a statutory formula and comes from a separate pool set aside specifically for counties.