Washington State Office of Public Defense

Washington State
Office of Public Defense

Welcome to Washington State OPD

The mission of the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) is "to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state... ." RCW 2.70.005. Established by the Legislature in 1996, OPD is an independent agency of the judicial branch.

2011- Proposal for the Administration of Defense Services
for Indigent Persons Involved in Proceedings
Under Chapter 71.09 RCW (Sexually Violent Predator) (pdf document)

OPD administers state funds appropriated for the Parents Representation Program for dependency cases, appellate indigent defense services, and criminal trial indigent defense services.

Parents Representation Program. OPD’s Parents Representation Program provides defense services to parents involved in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings. OPD sets manageable caseload limits, implements professional standards of practice and provides access to expert and case support services, so that program attorneys can better assist their clients. The Parents Representation Program is established in 25 counties.

Partners For Our Children finds that Parents Representation Program Speeds Timing to Reunification, Adoptions, and Guardianships (Website)

A recent study completed by Mark Courtney of the University of
Chicago and Jennifer Hook of Partners for Our Children of the
University of Washington found timing of permanency outcomes
was quicker in counties with the Parents Representation
Program.

OPD Comments on the Parents Representation Program
and Early Permanency (pdf document)

Trial Level Services.
OPD administers a program for the improvement of trial level public defense, under RCW 10.101. This law provides for state funding to counties and cities to upgrade public defense services.

Chapter 10.101 RCW Grant Fund Applications
City Applications due August 1, 2011
County Applications due August 31, 2011

2011-Performance Guidelines
for Criminal Defense Representation
(WSBA Web Document- ashx )

Update 2011 -WSBA Standards for Indigent Defense Services (WSBA Web Document- ashx )

2010 Status Report on Public Defense (pdf document)

Appellate Services. OPD contracts with over 50 attorneys to represent indigent appellants in cases where federal and state constitutions and state statutes guarantee the right to counsel. These include criminal cases as well as other cases involving basic rights such as dependency proceedings, parental rights terminations, criminal contempt convictions, and involuntary civil commitments.

Proposed rule regarding termination appeals: RAP 18.13A (Website)

All OPD services are provided by a 13 person staff, consisting of the director, deputy director, social services manager, an Appellate Program manager, three Parents’ Representation Program managers, two Public Defense Services managers, an executive assistant, an administrative assistant, a financial analyst, and a fiscal/budget manager.

Updated January 3, 2012

Privacy & Disclaimer Notice

Copyright © 2005 Washington State Office of Public Defense. All rights reserved
Evergreen Plaza Building - 711 Capitol Way South, Suite 106 - PO Box 40957 - Olympia, WA 98504-0957
360/586-3164 voice - 360/586-8165 fax
opd@opd.wa.gov e-mail