AB 690 Caseload Standards Toolkit
Comprehensive compliance guide for AB 690: caseload standards, staffing requirements, gap analysis, and tools for panel administrators and defense attorneys preparing for California's landmark indigent defense reform.
What AB 690 Does
Deadline: January 1, 2027
306 days remain for counties to comply with AB 690 caseload standards. Panels that fail to comply face loss of state funding and direct OSPD oversight.
AB 690 is the most significant indigent defense reform legislation in California history. Signed into law in 2024, the bill establishes mandatory caseload standards based on NAC limits, requires support staff ratios, and gives the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) unprecedented oversight authority over county indigent defense.
For conflict panel attorneys, AB 690 represents a seismic shift: for the first time, counties must ensure no attorney carries more than 150 felony cases per year, and panels must provide investigators, paralegals, and social workers at specified ratios.
Mandatory Caseload Caps
150 felonies, 400 misdemeanors, 200 juvenile, 25 appeals, 6 capital per attorney/year
Support Staff Ratios
Mandatory ratios for investigators (1:3), paralegals (1:4), and social workers (1:3)
OSPD Oversight
OSPD can investigate, audit, and order corrective action for non-compliant panels
Flat-Fee Elimination
Bans flat-fee contracts that incentivize minimizing work per case
NAC/OSPD Caseload Standards
Comparison of maximum caseload limits by source and case type. AB 690 adopts NAC standards as its baseline.
| Case Type | NAC | NLADA | OSPD | ABA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felony | 150 | 150 | 150 | Workload-based |
| Misdemeanor | 400 | 400 | 400 | Workload-based |
| Juvenile | 200 | 200 | 200 | -- |
| Appeals | 25 | 25 | 25 | -- |
| Capital | 6 | -- | 6 | -- |
* ABA does not set fixed numeric limits; recommends workload-based studies that account for case complexity, travel time, and support staff availability.
RAND Study Benchmarks
The RAND Corporation workload study provided the empirical foundation for AB 690's standards. The research quantified for the first time the actual hours needed per case type in California.
Key Findings
RAND Methodology
RAND used time-motion studies with defense attorneys across multiple California counties, measuring actual hours spent on each phase of case handling. The study found that NAC standards of 150 felonies per year were already generous, and that effective practice requires significantly fewer cases.
Staffing Ratio Requirements
AB 690 requires every defense panel to maintain minimum support staff ratios. Attorneys cannot provide effective representation without these resources.
Investigator
OSPD1 investigator per 3 attorneys; essential for felony and serious misdemeanor cases
Paralegal
OSPD1 paralegal per 4 attorneys; handles discovery, filings, and case management
Social Worker
OSPD1 social worker per 3 attorneys; provides client support, mitigation, and reentry planning
Mitigation Specialist
OSPD1 mitigation specialist per 5 attorneys; capital and life-without-parole cases
Office Manager
OSPD1 office manager per 10 attorneys; administrative and operational oversight
IT Support
OSPD1 IT support staff per 20 attorneys; technology infrastructure and case management systems
Gap Analysis: Bay Area Panels
Comparison of current attorneys vs. attorneys needed under AB 690 caps (150 felonies/year). Data derived from panel caseload reports.
CAAP
Alameda CountyIDA
San Francisco CountyOSPD Contract Standards
8 contract standards panels must meet under AB 690. OSPD requirements are mandatory; best practices are strongly recommended.
KPI Benchmarks
12 benchmarks grouped by category. These define how OSPD will measure compliance and defense quality.
Workload
Active Cases Per Attorney
AVAILABLETotal active cases per attorney per year, measured against NAC caseload limits by case type
Average Hours Per Case
LIMITEDAverage attorney hours invested per case, broken down by case type and complexity level
Quality
Substantive Motions Filed Rate
LIMITEDPercentage of cases where at least one substantive pretrial motion is filed
Trial Rate
AVAILABLEPercentage of cases resolved at trial rather than plea agreement
Investigator Involvement Rate
LIMITEDPercentage of felony cases where a defense investigator is actively involved in case preparation
Continuing Legal Education Hours
AVAILABLEAverage CLE hours completed per attorney per year, including criminal defense-specific training
Outcome
Case Disposition Breakdown
AVAILABLEDistribution of case outcomes: dismissal, plea agreement, trial verdict, and diversion program enrollment
Sentencing Outcome Comparison
LIMITEDSentencing outcomes for indigent defense clients compared to county and statewide averages
Client Service
Initial Client Contact Rate
EMERGINGPercentage of clients contacted by their assigned attorney within 48 hours of appointment
Interpreter Usage Rate
EMERGINGRate at which interpreter services are utilized for non-English speaking clients across all case proceedings
Fiscal
Average Cost Per Case
AVAILABLEAverage total cost per case by case type, including attorney compensation, support staff, and overhead
Attorney Retention Rate
AVAILABLEAnnual attorney retention rate; high turnover signals unsustainable workload or inadequate compensation
Compliance Checklist
Interactive checklist for panel administrators. Check off each item as your panel meets AB 690 requirements.
Budget Impact Calculator
Estimate the cost of meeting AB 690 caseload standards for your panel.
* Simplified estimate based on attorney compensation only. Actual costs will include support staff, overhead, training, and technology.
Advocacy Resources
Strategies and resources for attorneys pushing their county to comply with AB 690.
Practice Tips
Do This
- Track your own hours per case to document actual workload
- Keep records of all denied resource requests
- Request support staff (investigators, paralegals) in writing
- Report excessive caseloads to panel administrator immediately
- Attend CLE trainings on AB 690 standards
- Build relationships with OSPD and county supervisors
- Document cases where caseload impacted representation quality
Avoid This
- Don't accept more cases than you can effectively handle
- Don't sign flat-fee contracts -- they will be banned under AB 690
- Don't assume your panel automatically meets standards
- Don't ignore opportunities to comment on OSPD rulemaking
- Don't represent clients without access to adequate investigation
- Don't wait until 2027 to start tracking caseload data
- Don't retaliate alone; work with fellow panel attorneys
306 days until AB 690 implementation
Don't wait. Start documenting your caseloads, requesting resources, and building your coalition now. Attorneys who prepare today will be best positioned when OSPD oversight begins.