Services

Juveniles

Attorneys represent minors accused of criminal conduct; from their first appearance in court through the disposition of the case and during the periods of probation or other rehabilitative programming. The attorney is the minor’s advocate throughout all stages of the proceedings.

 

Felonies

Veteran trial attorneys handle all felony cases for indigent clients. Generally, representation begins at the arraignment and continues through the trial or sentencing. Occasionally, the Office of the Public Defender represents a person who has not been charged but is suspected of committing a crime. At sentencing, Public Defenders may recommend, to the judge, rehabilitation plans, such as drug or alcohol programs, as an alternative to incarceration.

 
Court

Misdemeanors

Attorneys represent persons charged in Ventura County of all types of misdemeanors. As with felonies, representation begins at the arraignment and continues through trial or sentencing.

Specialty Courts

Public Defenders appear in courts designated to handle specific types of clients or charges. Examples of these are adult veteran’s court and juvenile drug court, domestic violence court, homeless court, and mentally ill offender court. Public Defenders seek to balance the need for treatment with protection of the Constitutional rights of clients in these courts

HOA
Mental Health Court

PARALEGAL SERVICES

Paralegals help the public and clients to understand and navigate the criminal justice system. They assist attorneys with case preparation and jail inmates and other clients with issues such as credits, emergency releases, problems in completing probation and stays of sentence. Paralegals assist persons attempting to clear their criminal records through expungements and sealings.

investigations

The Public Defender Investigator is an integral part of the defense team. Investigators gather information that is used to assist the attorneys in preparing cases for court.
Court

MENTAL HEALTH

Attorneys represent persons involuntarily committed to mental institutions, persons unable to consent to needed medications, and persons under conservatorship. Find more information on mental health cases in the court system here.

Writs and appeals

Attorneys represent persons charged in Ventura County of all types of misdemeanors. As with felonies, representation begins at the arraignment and continues through trial or sentencing.