Portsmouth Public Defender’s Office, VA

The Portsmouth County Public Defender's Office is located in One Guardian Court in Portsmouth, Virginia and serves indigent criminal defendants who cannot afford to hire a defense attorney. With a team of Public Defenders and Staff Attorneys, this office handles trial and appellate cases. They take all types of cases from misdemeanors to felony rape and murder and all appeals from State courts, General District, Juvenile and Circuit Courts in Virginia. The Public Defender ensures that every accused citizen, regardless of financial resources, receives zealous and effective representation as mandated by the United States and Virginia Constitutions. Administered by the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC), the Public Defenders at the Portsmouth office receive support from VIDC's in-house defense team, composed of VIDC employed Paralegals Investigators, Mitigation Specialists and Office Managers. In addition, the VIDC enforces the mandatory Standards of Practice for Court-Appointed Counsel, which sets out detailed expectations for attorneys seeking appointments in criminal cases. Please visit their website to know who qualifies for representation by the Public Defender's office and how and when you can apply.