Public Defender's Office
The Public Defender's Office (PDO) is envisioned to be client-centered, independent, and innovative to the needs of Travis County residents. Consistent with nationally recognized best practices, the PDO provides high-quality holistic defense representation and other support to its clients. We represent youth in Juvenile Court and adults, including those living with serious mental illness/intellectual or developmental disability, in Criminal Court.
The PDO is one of two organizations that provides court-appointed attorneys to adults facing criminal charges in Travis County who cannot afford an attorney. For a full list of TCPDO staff representing adults facing criminal charges, see Adult Division Staff page and Mental Health Division Staff page. If you do not see your attorney listed, then they are likely a member of the Capital Area Private Defender Service (CAPDS), a non-profit organization of private attorneys that provides court-appointed attorneys. For more information or to contact CAPDS, please visit Capital Area Private Defender Service (capds.org) or call 512-774-4208.
For additional information about the Public Defender’s Office Mental Health and Juvenile Divisions, you can visit their websites by clicking the underlined hyperlinks.
Please know that an appointed attorney will NEVER ask you or your family member for money. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a public defender, asking for money to get a loved one released from jail, it is a scam.
TAX RATE: TRAVIS COUNTY ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 3.5 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $9.12.
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