MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

OPD has at least 1 district office in each county and Baltimore City. The District Trial Divisions provide felony, misdemeanor, traffic and juvenile delinquency defense for any offense where incarceration or detention is a possible penalty. Stages of representation include: arraignments, bail review, preliminary hearings, pre-trial motions, trial/disposition, sentencing/adjudication, motions to modify, and violations of probation and parole.

OPD also has 4 divisions that provide direct client representation in different proceedings. The Appellate Division provides representation on direct appeals of criminal, juvenile and children in need of assistance (CINA) cases. The Post Conviction Defenders Division provides representation on post conviction petitions, parole revocation hearings, and writs of actual innocence. The Parental Defense Division protects parental rights in CINA and termination of parental rights (TPR) proceedings when children are removed from the home. The Mental Health Division provides representation to those who are involuntarily committed to mental health hospitals across the state and to those found not criminally responsible (NCR) and incompetent to stand trial (IST).