Media Release

​ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Commission, the Public Defender for the 8th Judicial Circuit, and the Alachua County Facilities Management Department invite the public to the Ribbon-Cutting ceremony for the new Alachua County Public Defender’s Office. This event will be held on January 27, 2017, at 10 a.m. at the new building located at 151 SW 2nd Avenue in Gainesville, Fl. Parking will be available in the City of Gainesville Parking Lot 10, directly north of the new building.

Speakers at the event will include County Commission Chairman Ken Cornell, County Manager Dr. Lee A. Niblock, Public Defender Stacy A. Scott, Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Honorable Robert E. Roundtree and County Facilities Director Charlie R. Jackson.

The project budget was $5,289,682 and included the following features:

• 21,733 square feet
• CMU construction clad with brick and stucco
• Energy efficient HVAC system
• High efficiency lighting
• Low flow plumbing fixtures
• High efficiency air cooled chillers
• Low E glass
• Building automation system
• Modified bituminous membrane over concrete deck Roof
• Two-stop hydraulic passenger elevators
• Carpeted and ceramic tile flooring

Public Defender Stacy Scott said, “Moving into this modern facility allows us to better serve the public. My staff and I are thrilled to see the project successfully completed.”

The Office of the Public Defender, 8th Judicial Circuit, represents adults and children charged with criminal offenses and clients held in civil commitment under the "Baker Act" and the "Sexually Violent Predator Act." The 8th Circuit is comprised of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties.  In FY 2014-15, circuit-wide the Public Defender’s Office represented a total of 13,985 clients in a total of 16,541 cases. In Alachua County, the office represented 8,835 clients with 10,387 cases. The office employs 68 people, with 50 of those employees working in the Alachua County headquarters.

For more information, contact the Alachua County Communications Office at 352-374-5204.