The Defender Association of Philadelphia provides high-quality, client-centered legal representation, connection to social services, and reentry support to adults and juveniles in Philadelphia, engaging in advocacy and community collaboration to improve the lives of vulnerable populations, protect the Constitution, and ensure a fair and equitable justice system.

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is a non-profit corporation created in 1934 by a group of Philadelphia lawyers dedicated to the ideal of high-quality legal services for indigent criminal defendants.

In 1963, the United States Supreme Court concluded in Gideon v. Wainwright that an individual’s right to legal counsel is an essential part of the right to a fair trial guaranteed by the Constitution’s Sixth Amendment. The Defender Association assumed the role of the public defender for Philadelphia.

The Defender’s commitment to this ideal continues today. Defender attorneys represent more than 60 percent of defendants in adult and juvenile state courts and civil and criminal mental health hearings. Defender attorneys also serve as child advocates for dependent and neglected children.

Defender Association attorneys represent clients in adult and juvenile state courts, at civil and criminal mental health hearings, and as child advocates for children with open dependent petitions.

Assistant defenders rotate assignments through units and divisions within the organization as part of a comprehensive training process. Every Defender attorney is a licensed member of the Pennsylvania Bar and is not permitted to have a private practice or to take part in partisan political activity.

Defender attorneys are part of a team including social workers, paralegals, mitigation specialists, investigators, and administrative professionals who play critical roles serving our clients and communities.

As we are driven by outcomes, we focus on getting people out of the criminal justice system in the early stages to avoid an arduous process that can be detrimental to clients, families, and communities.

Pre-Entry Support:

Incarceration pre-trial often leaves individuals more desperate. The Defender works in partnership with community groups and justice partners to support clients pre-trial. By helping individuals to keep their homes, jobs, and connection to social services and supports, the Defender team can achieve fair outcomes and support stronger, safer communities.

Re-Entry Programs:

The Defender helps individuals successfully transition back to their communities following incarceration, through job training, social service programs, and other community-based solutions.

Criminal Justice Reform:

The Defender leadership team works with justice partners and stakeholders to support policy changes to change the culture of mass incarceration. By working to end cash bail, reform probation/parole detainers, support successful diversion programs, and empower communities to play a more active role in the criminal justice process, we can fundamentally change our system to reduce racial disparities and end our over-reliance on incarceration.

The Defender’s commitment to this ideal continues today. Defender attorneys represent more than 60 percent of defendants in adult and juvenile state courts and civil and criminal mental health hearings. Defender attorneys also serve as child advocates for dependent and neglected children.