We represent clients on a wide range of legal matters, primarily focusing on cases where clients have a constitutional or statutory right to counsel but cannot afford an attorney. If you’re not sure whether your case matches one of the categories below, you can learn more by contacting the SPD office that serves the county where your case is located.
Types of SPD representation:
Criminal and delinquency cases
- Adults charged with misdemeanors or felonies
- Juveniles accused of delinquent acts (Ch. 938)
- Juvenile waiver cases in which a court is deciding whether a client should be tried in adult criminal court or juvenile court
- Revocation of supervision/probation when a client could face incarceration
- People found not guilty due to mental disease or defect
Mental health and protective services cases
- People subject to involuntary civil commitment because they are alleged to be mentally ill, developmentally disabled, or drug dependent and a danger to themselves or others (Ch. 51)
- People subject to protective placement, such as adults who are deemed incompetent and facing placement in a residential facility (Ch. 55)
- People facing court orders that would allow medical professionals to forcibly administer mental health medications
- People the state is seeking to confine indefinitely after a criminal sentence has been completed, based on the determination that they are a sexually violent person (Ch. 980)
Family and contempt cases
- Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) cases
- Juvenile in Need of Protection or Services (JIPS) cases
- Unborn Child in Need of Protection or Services (UCHIPS) cases
- Paternity determinations, under certain circumstances
- Contempt proceedings in which a government entity is a party and incarceration is a possibility – most commonly child support contempt cases
- Waiver of parental consent for abortions
Determining eligibility
Contact the SPD office that covers the county where your case is located to complete the financial eligibility form.
Our process to determine your eligibility considers your:
- Income
- Assets (including spousal income and assets)
- Family size
- Type of case
How does it work?
We know that the legal system can be scary and overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what to expect. The staff at one of our 40 local offices can help.
Fees
Get more information about how to apply and what fees you can expect.
Have a question for our administrative team?