The Berrien County Public Defender's Office has a local regional office located in St. Joseph, Michigan. The office is staffed with one Chief Public Defender, one Chief Assistant Public Defender, 16 Assistant Public Defenders, and two Legal Assistants committed to the Standards for Indigent Defense as provided by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. Their interdisciplinary team of professionals adheres to the holistic defense model, providing the highest quality representation for their clients as they face criminal charges. In addition, the office seeks to obtain the best possible outcomes by providing social support and connecting clients with local social support services. Furthermore, the office provides legal representation to indigent defendants in Berrien County who cannot pay for private counsel and risk losing their liberty if convicted. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public trial without unnecessary delay and the right to a lawyer. If you have any questions about this organization, please use the contact information on the right-hand side of the page.