Department of Public Defense offered by King County Department of Public Defense in Seattle
Department of Public Defense offered by King County Department of Public Defense in Seattle
Provides attorneys to people who are financially eligible and who are facing certain kinds of criminal and civil proceedings. Screens adult clients for juvenile record sealing, juvenile sex offender registration relief, and juvenile restitution modifications. Handles adult cases, including King County misdemeanors, misdemeanor appeals, felonies, involuntary commitment, sex predator commitment and contempt of court cases. Public defenders also handle juvenile cases, dependency cases, and Becca cases, including Truancy, Child in Need Services (CHINS) and At Risk Youth (ARY). Cases are assigned to a division based upon the type of charge. Some divisions are only in certain courts or handle a particular case type. Clients are also screened for conflicts with the divisions. Every effort is taken to avoid conflicts between attorneys and their clients. Attorneys are not permitted to represent a client who was a witness, victim, or co-defendant on a previous case the attorney represented.
Location
516 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
Hours
Phone: M-F, 8am-5pm. Last case taken at 4:30pm.
Application process
Call to have the financial screening done over the phone. No appointment is necessary. Cases are screened for indigence determination. Those who are financially eligible are appointed to a public defender or a private attorney who accepts court-appointed public defense cases. Clients are interviewed on a first come, first served basis; no appointment is necessary. If you have been assigned to a division by a DPD screener, please wait four business days from the date of screening and then call the division to find out the name of your attorney. If you don't know to which division you were assigned, please call DPD. Documents Required: - Your court summons, which shows your case number, charge, next court date and type of hearing scheduled - Your two most recent pay stubs - Your most recent bank statement - A copy of your income tax return
Eligibility
Attorneys may be provided to the following, depending on financial eligibility: - People who have been charged with a crime and face the possibility of jail time - People who could lose their children due to a dependency action - People who face involuntary commitment to a mental health facility - People with outstanding warrants in any King County court - Youth who have been charged with an offense or facing other proceedings - People who face contempt of court for failure to pay child support - People who face civil commitment as sexually violent predators - Adults who would like their juvenile records sealed Financial Eligibility: Receives public assistance such as - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Aged, Blind or Disabled assistance benefits - Poverty-related veterans' benefits - Food stamp benefits - Refugee resettlement benefits - Medicaid - Supplemental Security Income OR Is involuntarily committed to a public mental health facility; OR Receives an annual income, after taxes, of 125 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level; OR Is unable to pay the anticipated cost of counsel for the matter before the court because the available funds are insufficient to pay any amount for the retention of counsel.
Fee
Individuals who are arrested are notified they will be provided with an attorney at public expense if they can't afford one. There may be a fee for other services, depending on the client's income.
Languages
Spanish
Interpreter services
Agency info
King County Department of Public Defense
Provides criminal defense counsel to low-income individuals whose liberty is in jeopardy or who may have their parental rights jeopardized.