MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Benton & Franklin Counties Office of Public Defense is to provide quality, cost-effective, legal representation to indigent and other qualified persons charged with criminal offenses, or otherwise facing potential incarceration, so as to protect their Constitutional and other legal rights, educate them about the criminal justice system, and champion the interests of justice.  The Benton & Franklin Counties Office of Public Defense will always be mindful of the fact that the resources that enable it to advance its Mission are entrusted to it by the taxpayers of Benton & Franklin Counties, and as such it will constantly strive to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its team, of systems which it manages, and of systems of which it is a part, so as to always be a good steward of such resources.



Defendants
If you have any questions about the status of your case, please contact your assigned attorney directly.  Please be aware that since attorneys regularly spend a large portion of their time in court, it may take a day or two before your attorney responds to you.  If you are unable to contact your attorney and need to do so on an urgent basis, please contact us so that we can assist you with such communication.  Please note, however, that administrative staff is unable to discuss details of your case since that information should be kept between you and your assigned attorney.

Before contacting the office with any other questions, please read the FAQ section of this website as it may help you obtain the information you seek more quickly than by calling us.