A public defender represents people who are facing criminal charges but are unable to afford a private attorney to handle their case. The public defender’s office is meant to ensure that no defendant is denied their right to an attorney, which is provided under the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. The office usually consists of a chief public defender who manages it, as well as assistant public defenders. A public defender is a licensed attorney who is paid by the government to provide this type of representation. They tend to be familiar with the court system in their area, since they spend so much of their time working with clients and handling appearances in court. (Source: Justia)
We’ve developed a guide that will provide you a general understanding of the criminal justice process. The guide contains a chart that outlines the legal steps your case will go through (in order). To learn more about each step, click on the
If you want a more detailed understanding of the criminal justice process, we've created this Client and Family Handbook to help you. This handbook will discuss how your public defender will handle your case and delve into what resources are available to help you and your family get through this troubling time.
We've created this Client and Family Handbook to help you and your family better understand the criminal justice process, how your public defender will handle your case, and what resources are available to help you and your family get through this troubling time.
We've created a set of videos that guide you through the criminal justice process, discuss the role of public defenders, and provide information that you can use to prepare for your case. If you want to learn how each of the legal steps relate to one another, check our Legal Process Guide.