Franklin County, IL Public Defender’s Office

The Office of Franklin County Public Defenders is located in the Franklin County Justice Center at Benton, IL. With one Public Defender, one Assistant Public Defender and other support staff, this office as directed by the court, shall act as attorney, without fee, for all persons who are held in custody or who are charged with the commission of any criminal offense, and who the court finds are unable to employ counsel. They also represent clients under the Juvenile Court Act and the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1983 for any party who the court finds is financially unable to employ counsel. 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 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. For further assistance, you should first contact the Franklin County Public Defender's Office.