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.
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
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.