Public Defender

Contact Information, Office Hours
Functions, Office Responsibilities
FAQ's, Common Terms, History, Interesting Facts

Functions

Legal Representation for low income citizens and juveniles

The Public Defender’s Office is a private, nonprofit corporation whose financial support comes from the State of South Carolina and Charleston County governments. The Public Defender's Office has a Board of Directors selected by the Charleston County Bar association. The office is led by an Executive Director who has a Director of Litigation and a Director of Administration working with her in the management of the office. This office and its staff of 19 attorneys provide legal representation to low income citizens who are charged with serious crimes. The Public Defender’s Office also represents in Family Court the majority of juvenile defendants who are charged with crimes.

This Office Does

	Provide legal representation to low income citizens charged with serious crimes
	Represent in Family Court juvenile defendants charged with crimes
	Handle cases for citizens who are indigent and are facing an immediate jail sentence without an available alternative sentence or a fine

This Office Does Not

Handle civil, divorce or child custody cases. For attorney information, call the S.C. Lawyers Referral Service at (800) 868-2284 or the Legal Service Agency (843) 720-7044.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:	How does one qualify to be represented by a public defender?
A:	Applicants must complete and sign a financial affidavit. To qualify, applicants are interviewed at the Detention Center or the Public Defender's Office.

Common Terms

Indigent --A person without the funds or ability to hire a private attorney.

Jail Liaison-- An employee who assists in attorney and inmate communications, monitors the Detention Center population, and assists in making sure inmates are released from jail in a timely manner after sentencing.

History

The S.C. General Assembly created County Public Defender's Offices in 1973 as a vehicle to provide legal representation for indigent defendants.

Interesting Facts

	Each year, this office represents over 7,000 persons who are charged with major offenses in the adult felony court, over 1,600 persons in family court and over 500 in Magistrate courts.
	In 1995, the National Association of Counties awarded to the Charleston County Public Defender's and Sheriff 's Offices its Achievement Award for their shared Liaison Program.

Contact Information

Public Defender
O.T. Wallace County Office Building
101 Meeting Street, 5th Floor
Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 958-1850
(843) 958-1860 (Fax)

Office Hours

Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Juvenile Screening
(in the office)
Wednesday
11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Adult Screening
(in the office)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
2 p.m.-4 p.m.