Public Defender Offices

Public defender (PD) offices provide free defense to indigent clients in criminal cases. In New York, there are a variety of PD offices, some of which offer holistic services (access to social workers, immigration, housing, and family attorneys).

If a participant has a criminal issue and is to appear in court, they need to connect to a PD office where they will be connected to a PD who can assist them. Depending on the variety of issues a client may face, you should consider whether a holistic office would be more appropriate to meet their needs.

A participant should be connected to a PD office that is in the jurisdiction of where they are set to appear.

For example, if a participant is to appear in New York Criminal Court, they should connect to the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem or the New York County Public Defenders.

After figuring out which office to call, make sure to refer to how to speak to public defenders.

Below are the jurisdictions and according public defender offices:

New York Criminal Court

  • Neighborhood Defender Service Of Harlem (holistic) (212.876.5500)

  • New York County Defenders (212.803.5100)

  • Manhattan Legal Aid

Bronx Criminal Court

  • Bronx Defenders (holistic) (718.838.7878)

  • Bronx Legal Aid

Brooklyn Criminal Court

  • Brooklyn Defender Services (holistic) (718.254.0700)

  • Brooklyn Legal Aid

Queens Criminal Court

  • Queens Law Associates (718.261.3047)

  • Queens Legal Aid