The Federal Public Defender's Office for the Central District of California was established in 1971 and is the largest organization in the federal defender program. The Central District of California covers seven counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo) and a population of over 19 million people. We have offices in Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Riverside. Our Office has over 200 employees, including approximately 83 attorneys, 22 paralegals, 33 investigators and more than 70 supporting staff members.
Our office is appointed by the United States District Court to represent those persons charged with federal offenses who cannot afford to retain their own attorney. We represent over 60 percent of all persons charged with criminal offenses in this District. Our representation starts at the first bail hearing before the federal Magistrate Judge and continues through trial or plea, and sentencing in the district court. Even after sentencing, we continue to represent our clients on appeal before the Ninth Circuit and United States Supreme Court, and thereafter on matters concerning probation or supervised release.
Our Capital Habeas Unit represents persons who have been sentenced to death by state court juries from within this District, and whose convictions have proceeded through the state court appellate process and are now before the federal court on claims involving federal constitutional violations. Our Non-Capital Habeas Unit represents petitioners in non-capital habeas proceedings who allege that their state convictions are invalid due to federal constitutional violations. We are one of the few offices in the country with a specialized Social Support Unit.
Mission Statement
We are committed to the pursuit of justice by aggressively advocating in federal court for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of individuals who are accused or convicted of crimes and cannot afford their own lawyer.
The Federal Public Defender's Office for the Central District of California was established in 1971 and is the largest organization in the federal defender program. The Central District of California covers seven counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo) and a population of over 19 million people. We have offices in Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Riverside. Our Office has over 200 employees, including approximately 83 attorneys, 22 paralegals, 33 investigators and more than 70 supporting staff members.
Our office is appointed by the United States District Court to represent those persons charged with federal offenses who cannot afford to retain their own attorney. We represent over 60 percent of all persons charged with criminal offenses in this District. Our representation starts at the first bail hearing before the federal Magistrate Judge and continues through trial or plea, and sentencing in…