Client Responsibility
Once the court has determined that you are financially unable to hire your own lawyer, and that you are therefore entitled to the services of a Public Defender, you have the following responsibilities:
Meet as soon as possible with your lawyer. Discuss with the lawyer the facts and circumstances surrounding the charges against you. Your recollection of the events can be vital to your defense.
Make a commitment to assist your lawyer in gathering all necessary documents and other information that may help your case. Remember that all communications–written or oral–with police, prosecutors, the probation department, inmates or anyone else in the criminal justice system should be made through your lawyer.
Advise your lawyer of your current residence. You must notify your lawyer or your public defender office of any change in your address or phone number during the course of your representation.
PLEASE BE ADVISED, if you are accepted as a client of the Public Defender Service Corporation, you must maintain contact with us. This means that if you move, change your mailing address or change your employment, you must inform this office. Should we lose contact with you, we may be forced to withdraw from your case.