The Stark County Public Defender provides legal representation for indigent adults charged with the commission of an offense that is in violation of a statute or ordinance for which the penalty includes potential loss of liberty. Our office also provides legal representation for juveniles in delinquency and unruly proceedings and for adults in Family Court whose parental rights may be in jeopardy due to allegations of abuse, neglect or dependency. We also handle cases in any Stark County Court in which a person is facing contempt of court charges. Our office cannot represent individuals seeking custody or visitation rights in custody matters between private individuals and that do not involve a child protective services agency.
To qualify for representation it must first be determined whether the person being represented is indigent based upon the standards set forth in the Ohio Administrative Code. This requires an interview with one of our investigators. You should contact our office to schedule an appointment if you are unable to retain counsel and believe that you are indigent. If you are in jail, one of our investigators can interview you there to determine whether you qualify.