The Alameda County Public Defender's Office provides the highest quality of indigent criminal defense by vigorously advocating for the rights of individuals facing criminal charges in adult and juvenile court. They fight for those who cannot afford to fight for themselves and help them navigate a complex and daunting legal system. The Mission of the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office is to zealously protect and defend the rights of their clients through compassionate and inspired legal representation of the highest quality, in pursuit of a fair and unbiased system of justice for all. If you have been charged with a crime and cannot afford an attorney, you will be assigned an attorney from the public defender’s office. The office’s practice consists predominantly of criminal defense litigation. They defend adults and juveniles charged with crimes ranging from petty-theft to capital murders. The office also defends individuals subject to involuntary psychiatric, civil commitments and conservatorships. Additionally, the office represents individuals in certain specialty or collaborative courts, such as homeless court, drug court and mental health court. Most collaborative courts look to alternatives to incarceration in order to provide individuals with the services and treatment that they need.