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 groundbreaking ceremony for the new Alachua County Public Defender’s Office. The groundbreaking is on January 25, 2016, at 11 a.m. adjacent to Alachua County Criminal Courthouse (220 South Main Street, Gainesville). The ceremony will be held in the Northwest parking lot. Parking will be available in the City of Gainesville Parking Lot 10, directly across from the ceremony site.

Speakers at the event will include County Commission Chairman Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson, County Manager Dr. Lee A. Niblock, Public Defender Stacy A. Scott, Court Administrator Paul Silverman and County Facilities Director Charlie R. Jackson.

The project budget is $5,289,682 and will include 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 will allow us to better serve the public. My staff and I are thrilled to see the project moving forward.”

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.