The Douglas County Public Defenders has a branch office located in Champaign, IL. The Public Defender’s Office provides legal representation to indigent defendants in Douglas County who cannot pay for private counsel and risk losing their liberty if convicted. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay and the right to a lawyer. Their goal is to provide a fully competent, effective, and ethical defense to each client whose cause has been entrusted to the office for representation. The Public Defender’s Office strives to provide all mandated legal services effectively and efficiently and conduct that representation so that, insofar as possible, the county criminal justice system operates effectively, efficiently, and achieves justice for the citizens of Douglas County. An individual must apply for a public defender by completing a detailed financial statement and agreeing to provide documentation concerning income, assets and debts for the person. For further assistance, you should first contact the Champaign office.