OFFICE OF THE YORK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER

Under the Constitution as amended in 1968, the Office of the Public Defender has been established as a Constitutional Office, and the authority to appoint the Public Defender and as many assistants as necessary is by the statute vested in the County Commissioners of the respective Counties. The Commissioners also have the responsibility of fixing the salary of the Public Defender and the assistants.

 The Public Defender has the responsibility to represent all indigent defendants in all types of criminal cases where such service is desired by the defendant, in all misdemeanors and felony cases, and in summary cases in which there is a substantial likelihood that a jail sentence will be imposed. At present, the office is staffed by one Public Defender, First Assistant Public Defender, 3 Senior Assistant Pubic Defenders and 14 Assistant Public Defenders.

 In addition to representing defendants in criminal cases at and before trial in the Court of Common Pleas, the office is charged also with the responsibility of representing such defendants in appeals to the appropriate Appellate Courts and in post-conviction proceedings.

 Finally, the Office is responsible for involuntary commitments under the Mental Health Procedures Act, the Domestic Relations Office contempt proceedings and Indirect Criminal Contempts arising out of violation of Protection from Abuse matters.