Office of the Public Defender – Maryland

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender is a legal services organization operated by the state of Maryland. The purpose of the division is to ensure that all individuals have access to legal counsel and the ability to mount a legal defense regardless of income status. The Office of the Public Defender maintains a minimum of one district office in each county of the state, as well as one in Baltimore City.  The District Trial division of the office offers defense services for felony charges, misdemeanor crimes, traffic violations and juvenile justice cases whenever incarceration is a possible result of conviction. Assigned counselors provide representation during all or some of the following: arraignments, bail review, preliminary hearings, pre-trial motions, trial/plea, sentencing, motions to modify and violations of probation and parole. The Parental Defense Division protects adults facing matters related to Children in Need of Assistance (CINA) and Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) litigation after children have been removed from the home. The Appellate Division offers legal counsel for direct appeals of criminal, juvenile and Children in Need of Assistance (CINA) cases to be heard by Maryland's Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals. The Post Conviction Defenders Division offers services regarding post conviction petitions, parole revocation hearings and writs of actual innocence.