Oneida County, NY Public Defender’s Office

The Oneida County Public Defender's Office is located in Utica, NY. The office comprises one Chief Public Defender, one Chief Appellate Counsel, two Attorneys in the Appeal & Parole Unit, three Attorneys in the Violent Crimes Unit, four Attorneys in the Major Crimes Unit, seven Attorneys in the City Courts Unit and one Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA) & CAP Courts Unit. The Public Defender, Criminal Division, is charged with representing indigent criminal defendants throughout Oneida County and on appeal to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department and the New York State Court of Appeals. Their authority extends to the 42 city, town and village courts within the county, Oneida County Court and parole violations and appeals. The jurisdiction of the Public Defender also includes the defense of inmates accused of committing criminal offenses while incarcerated in one of the three state corrections facilities within Oneida County and the Central New York Psychiatric Center. Public Defender services are free of charge to those accused of a crime and "financially eligible." For eligibility guidelines and information about how to apply for Public Defender services, please see their Application Process on their website or contact them directly.