To apply for a Public Defender you must submit an application and household income information to our office. Our application can be found here. The completed application and supporting documents can be emailed or faxed to our office or submitted in person during business hours.

To make an appointment with your attorney, you can call or come into our office during regular business hours. If you make an appointment in person, you will receive an appointment slip with the date and time of your appointment.

You will receive a bench warrant if you miss a court date. When you have a bench warrant you must turn yourself in to the Sheriff’s Office in the Municipal Building. If you turn yourself in before 11 am, it is likely that you will be in court at around 1 pm and will not have to remain in custody overnight. After you appear in court for your bench warrant, you will receive a new court date.

If you miss a court date you should call our office immediately to speak with your attorney about your situation. It is likely that the judge issued a bench warrant for your arrest for not being present in court. Your attorney will have information regarding what happened in court and can advise you on what steps to take going forward.
 

ARD stands for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. If you are accepted into and successfully complete the program, your charges may be dismissed. If ARD is an option for you, your attorney will bring it to your attention.

Public Defenders and private attorneys receive the same education and certification. The only differences between a private attorney and a Public Defender are that Public Defenders ONLY handle criminal matters and Public Defenders do not charge for their services.

The maximum amount you can make to qualify for a Public Defender depends on how many people are in your household and any other assistance you may receive. It varies from person to person, so there is no way to know if you will qualify without applying.

At your Preliminary Hearing, you will receive a Three Letter Date that contains the three dates and times you will need to be present in court. If you believe you have not received this letter, call our office.