Type of cases where OPD provides services

Adult Felony

These are adult criminal cases filed in King County Superior Court for crimes occurring anywhere within King County. Felonies are punishable by more than one year in a state prison. The cases are prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

What to do if you have been charged with a felony:

• If you are out of jail:
  You need to have a financial interview to see if you qualify for a public defender. You can either come to any OPD office prior to your arraignment or meet with an OPD screener at your arraignment. In either case, there will be an attorney available to represent you at your arraignment. If you qualify for a public defender, you will be assigned to an agency at your arraignment.
• If you are in jail:
  OPD will assign your case to a public defender agency, prior to your arraignment. You can call OPD collect at (206) 296-7662 to find out which agency you’ve been assigned to. Your attorney will be at your arraignment. If there is a question about whether or not you qualify for a public defender, there will be an OPD screener at your arraignment.

Adult Misdemeanor

These are adult criminal cases filed in King County District Court for crimes occurring in unincorporated King County. Misdemeanors are punishable by less than one year in the county jail. The cases are prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

OPD also provides financial screening for misdemeanor cases Shoreline Municipal Court and Kenmore Municipal Court.

What to do if you have been charged with a misdemeanor:

• If you are out of jail:
  You need to have a financial interview to see if you qualify for a public defender. You can either come to any OPD office prior to your arraignment or meet with an OPD screener at your arraignment. In either case, there will be an attorney available to represent you at your arraignment. If you qualify for a public defender, you will be assigned to public defender agency.
• If you are in jail:
  Call the OPD office at (206) 296-7662 (this is a free call from the jail) and provide the receptionist with your case information. An OPD screener will review your case and if you qualify, assign you to a public defender agency. You may also wait until your arraignment and meet with an OPD screener then. In either case, there will be an attorney available to represent you at your arraignment.

Adult Misdemeanor Appeals

These are appeals to misdemeanor cases filed in King County Superior Court. If you would like to file an appeal to your misdemeanor, you need to ask your attorney to do so at the end of your case. There is a time limit for filing an appeal.

Once the appeal has been filed, come to any OPD office for a financial screening. If you qualify for a public defender, an attorney will be assigned to you.

Contempt of Court

Someone who has failed to pay child support is in danger of being held in contempt of court, which has a possible jail penalty. If a King County judge decides to hold someone in contempt for not paying child support, OPD will provide an attorney for the contempt charge.

If you have been charged with contempt of court:
You need to have a financial interview to see if you qualify for a public defender. You can either come to any OPD office prior to your hearing or meet with an OPD screener at your hearing. If you qualify for a public defender, you will be assigned to an agency at your arraignment.

Sex Predator Commitment

Under Washington State law, the state is allowed to hold certain sex offenders at the Special Commitment Center after completion of their prison terms. OPD appoints attorneys to these civil commitment cases by court order.

Involuntary Treatment Act

People committed to a mental health facility against their will for either mental health or substance abuse disorders. OPD provides representation on these civil commitment cases. OPD appoints attorneys to these cases by court order.

Juvenile Offender

These are criminal cases filed in King County Superior Court against those under 18, for crimes committed anywhere within King County. Cases are prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

If you have been charged with a juvenile offender crime:
You will automatically be assigned an attorney. He or she will be present at your first hearing. Your parents or guardian are responsible for helping to pay for the attorney, if they can afford to do so. OPD will send a letter to your parents or guardian requesting financial information to determine if they are able to pay.

Dependency

OPD represents parents and other legal guardians when the state Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is trying to take away your children. The state files a dependency petition to determine if the child is dependent on the state because the parent is unable to care for him or her. If the situation does not improve, the state may file a termination petition to permanently remove the child from the home. OPD will appoint a different attorney to each parent or guardian, if necessary. Children over the age of 12 may also be eligible to receive their own attorney. Cases are prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s office.

If you are involved in a dependency action:
Come to any OPD office for a financial screening. If you qualify for a public defender, an attorney will be appointed to you. There will be an attorney to represent you at your initial hearing.

Becca

OPD appoints attorneys to children involved in Becca cases. There are three types of Becca cases:

• At-Risk Youth:
  Cases when a parent files a petition with juvenile court to get help in the care and control of the child.
• Child in Need of Services (CHINS)
  Cases when a child, parent or DSHS representative files a petition to remove the child from the home of his or her parent. A serious conflict must exist between the parent and reasonable efforts have been to fix the situation.
• Truancy
  If a student has seven or more unexcused absences a month from school, the school must file a petition in juvenile court. If the student continues to be absent from school they may be found in contempt. OPD will appoint an attorney to the child if they are in contempt.

If you are involved in a Becca case:
An attorney will automatically be appointed to the child. This attorney will be there to represent you at your initial hearing. Parents involved in CHINS cases may receive a public defender. However, parents must first come to an OPD office for a financial screening to see if they qualify.