The Forrest County Public Defender's Office is located in Hattiesburg, MS. With four Felony Public Defenders, three Certified Parent Defenders, one Death Penalty Defender and two Youth Defenders, the Forrest County Public Defender's Office provide legal representation to indigent defendants in Forrest County who cannot pay for private counsel and who are at risk of losing their liberty if convicted. 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 determined to be eligible for court-appointed counsel do not have the right to choose who their attorney will be. However, they do have the right to have competent legal representation. You should first contact the Forrest County Public Defender's Office for further assistance.