As the largest legal services provider in the state and the agency charged with representing indigent defendants, the Office of the Public Defender is in a unique position to identify and address injustice in the policies and systems that affect the lives of individuals impacted by the criminal and juvenile justice systems. To ensure positive and meaningful outcomes for our clients, we identify these issues and advocate for systemic change, not just in the courtroom, but with the Legislature, the Governor’s Office, the Judiciary Rules Committee, the media, and other state and local entities.  

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OPD’s current policy priorities include:

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• Fund Indigent Defense: Ensure equitable access to justice for all.

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• Pass Youth Charging Reform Act: Protect our children.

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• Pass Safer Traffic Stops for All: Promote safety and equity in traffic stops.

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• Pass Know Before They Knock: Educate parents and preserve families.