Profile:

The Public Defender's Office is an integral part of the criminal justice system providing representation to indigents accused of crimes in a vigorous and cost effective manner. The Public Defender's Office also represents parents in matters in which the state seeks to make their children dependants of the court, as well as those people accused of criminal contempt of court and people who are involuntarily committed during certain mental health proceedings. The Public Defender's duties are mandated by the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of California, and by statutes enacted by the California Legislature. The services provided by the office help assure the orderly administration of justice within our community and protect the liberty of those accused of crime as well as those who might someday find themselves accused.

Mission:

It is the mission of the Stanislaus County Public Defender's Office to provide quality legal representation to indigents who are accused of criminal offenses, involved in juvenile court proceedings or who are involved in statutorily defined civil proceedings. The goal is to provide a fully competent, effective, and ethical defense to each client whose cause has been entrusted to the office for representation; to provide all mandated legal services in a cost effective and efficient manner; and to conduct that representation in a manner that, in so far as possible, the county criminal justice system operates effectively, efficiently, and achieves justice. The federal and state constitutions and statutes, along with county decisions and rules, require the County to provide these legal services to individuals who cannot afford to hire lawyers.

History:

The Office of the Public Defender in Stanislaus County was founded in the early 1970's as a contract firm for the purpose of indigent defense.

Information about the office:

The Office of the Public Defender in Stanislaus County is staffed by 23 attorneys and a support staff of 12 including paralegals and an investigative staff of 7.

Public Defender Profile:

The current Public Defender for Stanislaus County is Mr. Tim Bazar. Mr. Bazar was recognized as Trial Lawyer of the year by the Tulare County Trial Lawyers Association in 1990. Tim Bazar began work in February, 1996 as the new Public Defender for Stanislaus County. Mr. Bazar is restructuring the office to better serve the community and has met with members of the bench and management of all other County criminal justice agencies in furtherance of this goal.

The previous and first Public Defender in Stanislaus County was Mr. Dallas Cole. Mr. Cole served the office for 25 years.