The Yates County Public Defender's Office is located in Penn Yan, NY. With one Public Defender, Staff Attorneys and other support staff, the Public Defender's Office provides legal representation to individuals that are financially unable to retain an attorney without substantial hardship in the Yates County Courts. The roles and responsibilities of Yates County Public Defender's Office are to provide legal representation, consultation, and advice to clients, represent clients through criminal investigative proceedings, create a defense plan, conduct legal investigative research, and interview the necessary clients and witnesses, work closely with clients, discuss relevant information and strategies. 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 made 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. All dealings between a court-appointed attorney and the client are confidential. You should first contact the Yates County Public Defender's Office for further assistance.