OVERVIEW: Provides legal representation to income eligible individuals who have been arrested or summoned for a jailable offense.

A District Court Commissioner will determine whether you qualify to be represented by the Office of the Public Defender for District Court or Circuit Court criminal and traffic cases that carry a penalty of incarceration.

The Office of the Public Defender’s Intake will determine whether you qualify for representation for cases of Violation of Probation, Child Support, Parental Defense cases, Juvenile Court cases, Courts of Appeals and Special appeals, Post Conviction, Modification of sentence, Mental Health cases and Parole Retake.

INTAKE PROCEDURE:

1) INCARCERATED CLIENT: Incarcerated clients are seen by the District Court Commissioner at the jail for Public Defender eligibility determination on new cases.
Incarcerated Clients can call 301-952-2145 to apply for Public Defender Intake cases.

For assistance of post-trial cases an OPD application is required. Incarcerated clients can call 301-952-2145 to apply for these post-trial matters.

2) NON-INCARCERATED CLIENTS:
Apply at any Maryland District Court Commissioners’ office or online for District Court or Circuit Court criminal and traffic cases that carry a penalty of incarceration.
The information and locations are available @ www.courts.state.md.us/district/pdinfo

Apply at any Maryland Office of the Public Defender or online for Violation of Probation cases, Child Support cases, Parental Defense cases, Juvenile Court cases, Courts of Appeals and Special appeals, Post Conviction, Modification of sentence, Mental Health cases and Parole Retake cases.
The information and locations are available @ www.opd.state.md.us