Beaver County,PA Public Defender’s Office

The Beaver County, PA Public Defender’s Office represents individuals who cannot afford private counsel in criminal cases, mental health hearings, summary appeals, juvenile matters, and indirect criminal contempt hearings on violation of a protection from abuse orders. In addition, with one Chief Public Defender and various other supporting staff, the office represents the county of Beaver in criminal defense cases resulting from lawsuits filed against the indigent client. To be represented, a defendant must complete an application with the department to see if they qualify for its services based on income guidelines. The right to counsel guaranteed to every American citizen accused of a crime is embodied in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and made applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. An integral component of the right to counsel is the right to court-appointed counsel for those unable to hire an attorney. Additionally, individuals may contact the organization directly or work through an attorney for more information or file a claim.