Services

The Monterey County Public Defender provides legal representation for adults and juveniles who are charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal offenses and are unable to afford counsel.  Attorneys represent clients in trial courts, juvenile court, collaboration and specialty courts, probate and mental health courts.   The Monterey County Public Defender also has a post sentence relief division providing an opportunity for potential expungement of criminal records.

If you have been charged with a crime and cannot afford an attorney, you will be assigned an attorney from the Public Defender’s Office. Our office’s practice consists predominantly of criminal defense litigation. We defend adults and juveniles charged with crimes ranging from petty-theft to capital murder. The office also defends individuals subject to involuntary psychiatric civil commitments and conservatorships.

Additionally, our office represents individuals in certain specialty or collaborative courts, such as homeless court, drug court and mental health court. Most collaborative courts look to alternatives to incarceration in order to provide individuals with the services and treatment that they need.