Pope County, IL Public Defender’s Office

The Pope County Public Defender's Office is located in Galatia, IL. With one Public Defender and other support staff, this office represents those individuals who have been accused of a crime that carries the potential for jail or prison time and cannot afford to hire a private counsel. The Pope County Public Defender's Office handles a variety of traffic, misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile criminal cases. They can also be appointed on abuse and neglect cases involving the rights of a parent accused of abusing or neglecting their child. 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 and the person's spouse if any. This information is generally provided to a court employee who reviews the financial information and recommends to the judge whether or not the person is eligible for government-paid counsel. Individuals may contact the organization directly or work through an attorney for more information or file a claim.