Fresno County Public Defender's Office

04/17/2020

When Every Sentence is a Possible Death Sentence: Public Defenders Speak From the Front Lines About COVID-19 - The Justice Collaborative Institute

Big shout out to all the members of our office who continue to show up to work everyday and fight for our clients--defending the Constitution in the face of the COVID 19 pandemic. It is inspiring to see the dedication and hard work of our Legal Assistants, Paralegals, Social Workers, Investigators, Attorneys, Admin, and Management team. Thank you Everyone! #UnsungHeros

Executive Summary Public defenders are tasked with the unenviable job of representing some of the most vulnerable people in society when they are accused of crimes with insufficient resources and limited public support. Premal Dharia, …

04/06/2020

Just a reminder that the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office will be closed to the public until further notice in order to protect the health and safety of both clients and employees. If you have questions about your case or need to contact your attorney you may still call us at (559) 600-3546, or (559) 600-6155 for Juvenile matters. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. #stayhome #flattenthecurve

03/30/2020

Our awesome Social Worker Unit put together a community resource guide including food, clothing, housing, medical, utilities assistance, and more. Feel free to share.

03/25/2020

Due to the health concern regarding COVID-19, the Fresno County Superior Court has temporarily closed from March 23 to April 3, 2020. If you haven’t done so already, please contact your attorney for your new court date. Please keep our office apprised of your current telephone number and mailing address. If you have any questions, call our main office at (559) 600-3546, or (559) 600-6155 for Juvenile matters.

03/19/2020

Due to the current recommendations from the CDC regarding COVID-19, the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office will be closed to the public until further notice in order to protect the health and safety of both clients and employees. If you have questions about your case or need to contact your attorney you may still call us at (559) 600-3546, or (559) 600-6155 for Juvenile matters. We take pride in providing you excellent representation and will work with you to make your commitments to the court while maintaining your health.

12/11/2019

10/29/2019

Another year, another successful Homeless Court at the Poverello House! Thanks to our attorneys who assisted in providing free legal assistance to people currently undergoing substance abuse treatment, helping resolve outstanding minor offenses and converting fines into community service. These efforts will remove significant barriers to reentry, for example, enabling clients to drive legally to their jobs, classes, and homes. Great work everyone!

09/25/2019

Congratulations to our Paralegal Rachel Gonzalez who was recognized by Supervisor Nathan Magsig at the State of the County Luncheon today! She has gone above and beyond to give back to the community by committing her free time to numerous Clean Slate clinics held by our office this past year. Thank you for all your hard work, Rachel!

07/08/2019

Before the Holiday, 10 members of our office assisted more than 40 clients prepare to get their records cleaned up, specifically related to prior marijuana offenses. This clinic was a huge success and now these members of our community will be able to move forward in their lives without a conviction on their record.

06/28/2019

Need a marijuana conviction removed? Help is being offered Saturday in Fresno

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article232048697.html#storylink=mainstage_lead

If you need help cleaning up your record, come check out the expungement clinic this Saturday. See the event we posted on our page.

Fresno residents with minor drug-related criminal records have the chance to begin the process to expunge or reduce their convictions through a clinic hosted by the public defender’s Clean Slate program.

06/28/2019

Need a marijuana conviction removed? Help is being offered Saturday in Fresno

Need a marijuana conviction removed? Help is being offered Saturday in Fresno

Fresno residents with minor drug-related criminal records have the chance to begin the process to expunge or reduce their convictions through a clinic hosted by the public defender’s Clean Slate program.

06/11/2019

This Saturday, 10 members of our office were able to help 20 clients prepare to get their record cleaned. A clean record will help these people get jobs, find housing, provide for their families, and give back to their communities. Keep an eye out for our next 1-on-1 clinic, coming up on June 29th.

05/24/2019

We are closed this afternoon from 12-5pm and all of Monday May 27th. Happy Memorial Day Everyone!

05/21/2019

This spring was a big fundraising season for our office as in addition to the $1,256 raised for mental health awareness through NAMI, we also raised $833.50 for March of Dimes to fight against premature birth. Funds will go toward research, programs, and treatments for moms to go to full-term, and also support families with newborns in intensive care. We had a very tasty bake sale, sold some swag, and raffled off a few very popular gift baskets. Thanks to everyone who organized and donated both time and money to a great cause!

05/16/2019

Our office had a great time at NAMIWalks last Saturday at Fresno State. We are proud to support mental health awareness and help raise funds for individuals and families right here in Fresno County. Thanks to everyone who donated to our total of $1,256.05, which ranked us 9th out of 65 teams!

03/22/2019

Our hallway signs got a MUCH needed makeover this morning. Happy Friday Everyone!

03/21/2019

Rap Sheets Haunt Former Inmates. California May Change That.

Great news!

A proposed law would make California the first state to automatically seal from public view the criminal records of people with misdemeanor or lower-level felony convictions.

02/26/2019

Congratulations to our Business Systems Analyst Kim Zepeda on 25 years of service with the County of Fresno! She has only been with the Public Defender a few months, and has already made herself an invaluable employee due to her wealth of knowledge and stellar work ethic. We don't know what we'd do without her!

01/28/2019

Two of our Chief Defense Attorneys had a great time recruiting at Public Interest/Public Sector Day last Saturday at UC Hastings in San Francisco. We are excited about all the great people they met and resumes they received. We are still recruiting for 14 Defense Attorney positions (level I/II/III) and are always on the lookout for stellar interns!

12/21/2018

Thank you to these ladies for organizing the collection effort for Fresno Rescue Mission's Rescue the Children program: a protected, secure environment providing long-term services to at-risk, abused, homeless, or previously incarcerated women or women with children to heal, learn, and grow.

Thank you also to all those in our office that donated!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

11/21/2018

Our office is closed until Monday Nov 26. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

11/21/2018

Thanks OneJustice for the Post-Clinic Report. Our office is proud to be a part of this partnership.

11/09/2018

Free Reentry Clinic this Saturday Nov 10th at Central California Legal Services, Inc.! See flyer for details.

11/07/2018

Congratulations to our Public Defender Elizabeth Diaz who will be honored at Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association's 7th Annual Trailblazers Awards Luncheon this afternoon!

Elizabeth Diaz was the first in her family to graduate from college and law school. This Fresno State grad was the first female attorney appointed in 2014 by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors as Fresno County Public Defender. She is among the honorees at the Trailblazers for Prosperity Awards November 7th. Get ticket info here. https://abc30.tv/2Rf5TbA

10/26/2018

Yesterday was Fresno's annual Homeless Court project held at the Poverello House. Our attorneys provided free legal assistance to people currently undergoing substance abuse treatment, helping resolve outstanding minor offenses and converting fines into community service. These efforts will remove significant barriers to reentry, for example, enabling clients to drive legally to their jobs, classes, and homes. Great work everyone!

10/26/2018

This week we broke in our new roll-up banner at the free Juvenile Probation Resource Fair to connect youth to local services in our community. There was a great turnout--thanks to Fresno County Probation for putting it on!

10/19/2018

The Sentencing Project

The Sentencing Project

"I wondered if becoming an attorney would fill the hole in my mother’s heart that my becoming a felon created. The courtroom was where she lost her son; maybe it would be where she got him back, too."

10/12/2018

Defenders of justice by day, defenders on the soccer field by the weekend. Happy Friday Everyone! #workhardplayhard

10/03/2018

We are currently hiring for fourteen Defense Attorney vacancies! Spread the word and send in your applications and resume to Executive Assistant Marsha Koop ([email protected]).
Employment Application: http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/Home/ShowDocument?id=20044

We also welcome Post Bar Law Clerks while you wait for your California Bar results! For internship opportunities, you may forward your resume to Chief Defense Attorney Kristin Maxwell ([email protected]).

09/20/2018

Restorative Justice is on the rise in schools, with its focus on rehabilitation and repairing damage over punishment. Check out this great opportunity to learn from local community leaders about what it involves. Free and open to the public!

Oct 17, 6-7:30pm Peters Ed Auditorium @ Fresno State University.

09/12/2018

Know your voting rights! ✔️

09/04/2018

California Becomes First State To End Cash Bail After 40-Year Fight

"The goal of the legislation is to eliminate human bias in court proceedings, but critics argue the new system that will be created by the courts runs the risk of perpetuating discrimination."

"Today, California reforms its bail system so that rich and poor alike are treated fairly," Gov. Jerry Brown said. He first advocated for an overhaul in his 1979 State of the State Address.

07/20/2018

“He didn’t know that he didn’t have to talk to police without a lawyer about a horrific double murder that had happened a few days earlier in his Crozet neighborhood. He didn’t know that police can lie to suspects to obtain a confession. And he didn’t know that after hours of a middle-of-the-night interrogation when he just wanted to sleep, if he told the officer what the cop wanted to hear, he wouldn’t be able to straighten things out in the morning.”
http://www.c-ville.com/13-years-later-robert-davis-new-life-free-man/#.W1JD8vlKhPZ

07/13/2018

Public defender crowdfunds books for clients

"In jail, reading can be a lifeline to the world outside of the cell, a connection to normalcy — or an escape to complete fantasy. In the insular, barred world of a county lockup, it’s a way to keep the days full and the tensions low."

For three years, Amalia Beckner went into work at the crack of dawn, starting her day in an empty public defender’s office that was quiet except for the frantic whir of the copy machine. James Baldwin. Zora Neale Hurston. Ta-Nehisi Coates. Ernest Cline. She copied from them all, in bits and pieces...

07/03/2018

Our office will be closed this afternoon from 12-5pm and all day July 4th. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!