Public Defender
Mary Klatt
Chief Public Defender
Dauphin County Administration Building (Second Floor)
2 South 2nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6370
The Public Defender is responsible for furnishing legal counsel to any person who, for lack of sufficient funds, is unable to obtain legal counsel in any situation where representation is constitutionally guaranteed. In general, a person is entitled to legal counsel whenever that individual's personal liberty is at stake. This would include capital crimes, felony offenses, misdemeanor offenses, juvenile delinquency offenses and summary offenses that carry a mandatory sentence of incarceration.
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In Dauphin County, eligibility for Public Defender services is based on federal poverty guidelines. Income, family financial responsibilities and the nature of the charges are all considered in determining qualification for legal representation by the Public Defender.