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Do You Need Legal Assistance?

LEGAL ASSISTANCE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

PDS is here to help you and your family as you navigate the District of Columbia’s juvenile and criminal legal systems. Any contact with the justice system—whether it’s an arrest, conviction, or incarceration—can cause stress, confusion, and hardship in your life. We are committed to serving you during this difficult time, and we hope you will find the information here helpful.

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Legal Assistance
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Professional Resources

 

For Attorneys, Investigators, and other Advocates

PDS is committed to providing and promoting the highest quality legal representation to indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty in the District of Columbia. To advance that mission, we offer a number of resources designed to assist Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorneys and investigators, and other interested advocates, in meeting our collective goal of providing the best representation possible.

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Client Service

Client Resources

 

For People Arrested, Charged, Tried, and/or Convicted Under District of Columbia Law

PDS cares deeply about you, your rights, your liberty, and the challenging circumstances you find yourself in.  We understand the difficulties and obstacles that are caused when lives intersect with the juvenile and criminal legal systems.  We hope you will find these resources helpful.

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Join Us & Make A Difference

PDS attracts the best and the brightest law students and practitioners from across the country, all applying for the distinction of working for one of the most respected public defender organizations in the world.

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Champions of Liberty
Champions of Liberty
Champions of Liberty
I became a public defender to serve the poor and the marginalized in what is often their greatest hour of need because they are my neighbor and they deserve an equal opportunity to be heard, seen, freed, acquitted, rehabilitated, and redeemed.

To me there is no greater responsibility, honor, or challenge.
David Knight Senior Supervising Attorney, Trial Division
directors

 

Heather N. Pinckney

Director

 


In 1960,

the District of Columbia established the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia ("PDS" was then known as the Legal Aid Agency). PDS was created to be a model public defender office. From the outset, PDS began developing the reputation for high quality, zealous advocacy it has enjoyed for decades. Our attorneys and other professionals are some of the best you will find anywhere. The staff in our various legal and legal support practice areas, which include trial (adult and juvenile), appellate, parole and supervised release, mental health, reentry, and some civil matters, work hard to meet our client’s needs.

You can call or visit us during regular business hours if you have a criminal matter you want to discuss. We also offer case advice and training to attorneys who take court-appointed cases in the District of Columbia local court system.

We’re here to help where we can, and we consider working at PDS a privilege.