Sacramento County Office of the Public Defender

Sacramento County Office of the Public Defender The Office of the Public Defender was founded in Sacramento County in 1948. Our Support Staff

A strong support staff assists fully in the legal defense.

We provide quality legal representation and/or advice to any person financially unable to employ counsel in adult criminal, juvenile delinquency, and mental conservatorship cases. About Our Office

The Office of the Public Defender was established in the County of Sacramento in 1948. We provide quality legal representation and/or advice to any individual financially unable to employ counsel in adu

lt criminal, juvenile delinquency, mental conservatorship, appropriate family law, and probate cases. Providing the defense of approximately 35,000 cases, our staff consists of approximately 140 employees. Our Attorneys

Our over 90 attorneys exclusively practice criminal law and related matters. The office recruits and hires candidates with a strong record of academic achievement. Attorneys gain trial experience initially at the misdemeanor level and progress through felonies of increasing difficulty. Due to the seriousness of the cases our office defends, our attorneys have significantly more trial experience than most private practitioners. Attorneys "staff" their cases with experienced senior attorneys and have quality in-house training that is certified by the State Bar. Criminal investigators locate and interview witnesses, as well as prepare thorough reports. The most current technological tools are generally available. The legal research assistants (law students) assist in the various divisions and interview and represent clients, under the guidance of a senior attorney. Others assist in legal research work. Our clerical staff processes our services and organizes our case files, assist in case document preparation, and answer a myriad of inquiries. Our Administrative Staff keeps the "business" of the office running smoothly. How Cases Are Defended

The goal in the defense of all cases is to provide the most vigorous advocacy to each individual client under the law in the most economically efficient manner. Primarily, our office works horizontally. After arraignment, a lead attorney will make an initial assessment of the case and interview the client. A goal and strategy plan for each case is developed. The case will be "staffed" by a senior attorney to insure any resolution of a case at an early stage is appropriate. If the case does not resolve, it is assigned to a trial attorney who will represent the client for the duration of the case. Each case receives careful assessment by staff members who are well versed in the practice and procedures of criminal law and the local criminal justice system.

Happy President’s Day from Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office.
02/16/2026

Happy President’s Day from Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office.

In light of the holiday, the Public Defender’s Office will be closed today, December 25.Wishing you a happy, peaceful, a...
12/25/2025

In light of the holiday, the Public Defender’s Office will be closed today, December 25.
Wishing you a happy, peaceful, and safe holiday season!

Please join us in congratulating Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Mouzis for being named the 2025 Distinguished Attorn...
12/05/2025

Please join us in congratulating Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Mouzis for being named the 2025 Distinguished Attorney of the Year by the Sacramento County Bar Association! She is only the second public defender to be selected to receive this honor. She will be celebrated at the SCBA's Annual Meeting & Holiday Celebration on December 10, 2025. We are so proud to have her in our ranks! Congratulations, APD Mouzis!

SacRT is offering SNAP recipients FREE RIDES to and from food distribution centers on fixed bus routes and light rail fr...
11/07/2025

SacRT is offering SNAP recipients FREE RIDES to and from food distribution centers on fixed bus routes and light rail from now until November 9, 2025, from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily!

To get your free ride, show bus drivers and Transit Ambassadors a valid SNAP card and this flyer. If you would like to download and print the flyer, follow this link:

https://www.sacrt.com/wp-content/uploads/Food-Dist_Free-Ride-Flyer_Through-Nov-9-2025.pdf

Learn more or plan your trip at sacrt.com/planyourtrip or call 916-321-BUSS (2877).

Today, attorneys from our office participated in the Adult Re-Entry Resource Fair hosted by . This event highlighted nu...
10/21/2025

Today, attorneys from our office participated in the Adult Re-Entry Resource Fair hosted by . This event highlighted numerous community-based services that help formerly incarcerated persons restart their lives. Featured services included education resources, family support services, California bureaucracy issues, and expungements services. All in all a great event!

Here is a quick and simple guide to basic rights you have if you are ever arrested.
09/25/2025

Here is a quick and simple guide to basic rights you have if you are ever arrested.

Yesterday, members of our office stood up in support of the Racial Justice Act to protect our communities from racial di...
08/21/2025

Yesterday, members of our office stood up in support of the Racial Justice Act to protect our communities from racial discrimination and bias in the legal system.

Mental health treatment matters
07/07/2025

Mental health treatment matters

Our office will be closed in observance of the holiday tomorrow. We wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July.As pub...
07/03/2025

Our office will be closed in observance of the holiday tomorrow. We wish everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July.

As publics defenders we continue to uphold the values of liberty and justice for all.

In case you missed Time Done yesterday, our office can help you get a clean slate.
06/26/2025

In case you missed Time Done yesterday, our office can help you get a clean slate.

We are very excited to be out on the Capitol Lawn tomorrow with TimeDone as part of TimeDoneDay! Here's to second chance...
06/24/2025

We are very excited to be out on the Capitol Lawn tomorrow with TimeDone as part of TimeDoneDay! Here's to second chances!

With the Public Defender’s Office being closed for Juneteenth, we take a moment to reflect on the significance of this h...
06/19/2025

With the Public Defender’s Office being closed for Juneteenth, we take a moment to reflect on the significance of this holiday.

Juneteenth is meant to be a celebration of the end of slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation declared the end of slavery in Confederate states in 1863; however, Texas did not free slaves until federal troops arrived two years later, on June 19, 1865.

As public defenders, we fight every day to end systemic racism in our criminal justice system. In particular, Black people make up 38% of the incarcerated population despite being only ~14% of U.S. population. "No one of us can be free until everybody is free."

Address

Sacramento, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(916) 874-6411

Website

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