The New Jersey State Office of the Public Defender is committed to providing first class legal representation to citizens who cannot afford attorneys at both the trial and appellate levels.

While the majority of our attorneys defend individuals charged with criminal offenses, we also represent individuals whose children have been removed based on allegations of abuse and neglect (Office of Parental Representation), the children who have been removed (Office of Law Guardian), and individuals involuntarily committed to State psychiatric facilities (Office of Mental Health Advocacy). My goal as the Public Defender is to establish the best Public Defender’s Office in the country.

Services:

• Every individual accused of committing a criminal ("indictable") offense in adult court or any offense in juvenile court has a constitutional right to be defended by a lawyer. The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJOPD) represents adult and juvenile clients who are charged with criminal and juvenile offenses in New Jersey state courts when the court determines that they cannot afford to hire private lawyers.  While clients do receive and are expected to pay bills for many of the services of the NJOPD, clients are fully represented whether or not they can afford to pay. 
• In representing clients, the NJOPD will ensure that any services necessarily related are included, such as obtaining court transcripts or utilizing expert witnesses. The office has the right to decide the extent of such services and how much will be paid for them, and these are also items that will be billed to the client.
• The NJOPD also provides representation to adult and juvenile clients if they are found guilty and choose to file direct appeals or post-conviction petitions concerning their convictions and/or sentences, consistent with court rules.  Criminal/juvenile representation also extends to directly-related sentencing matters that may arise, such as decisions about whether an individual is eligible for certain special kinds of sentences such as Drug Court or Intensive Supervision Parole. Criminal/juvenile representation also extends to violation of probation matters.
• The NJOPD does not provide representation to individuals facing domestic violence complaints in Family Court; traffic or minor offenses that are handled in local Municipal Courts; or parole violation matters.
• Through its Office of Parental Representation (OPR), the NJOPD also provides representation in Family Court to parents and/or guardians who are accused of abusing and/or neglecting children and/or who face possible termination of parental rights.  This representation can extend to appellate representation if needed.
• Through its Office of Law Guardian (OLG), the NJOPD also provides representation in Family Court to children when they are the subjects of litigation against their parents and/or guardians concerning alleged abuse and/or neglect or possible termination of parental rights. This representation can extend to appellate representation if needed.
• Through its Division of Mental Health Advocacy (MHA), the NJOPD also provides representation to: individuals in mental health-related commitment, review and placement hearings in 13 counties, as well as children from all 21 counties; Division of Developmental Disabilities clients throughout the state at guardianship hearings; and individuals throughout the state facing involuntary commitment under the "sexually violent predators" law.
• Through its Special Hearings Unit (SHU), the NJOPD also provides representation to individuals subject to tier classification under Megan's Law.
• Through its Office of Dispute Settlement (ODS), the NJOPD also provides mediation and arbitration services in the public interest in both complex civil litigation and in public disputes.  It also offers training in negotiation and mediation skills.

Structure:

• Management
• Administration
• Criminal Defense (Trial Level)
• Appellate (Criminal)
• Post-Conviction Relief Unit (PCR)
• Office of Juvenile Defense Services (OJDS)
• Office of Law Guardian (OLG)
• Office of Parental Representation (OPR)
• Special Hearings Unit (SHU)
• Intensive Supervision Program (ISP) Unit
• Drug Court Unit
• Division of Mental Health Advocacy (MHA)
• Office of Dispute Settlement (ODS)

Locations in Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren

Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults Seniors
Community Services	Legal / Advocacy Advocacy (Legal) Law Enforcement / Corrections Legal Assistance
Areas Served	Hunterdon County Somerset County Warren County

Last Updated: 03/01/18