If you are charged with a crime in Indiana and cannot afford a lawyer, the court must appoint one for you. That right comes from the Sixth Amendment, from Article 1, Section 13 of the Indiana Constitution, and from the U.S. Supreme Court's 1963 decision in Gideon v. Wainwright. What the law does not do is create one statewide office that handles every case. Indiana leaves most of the work to its 92 counties, so the office that serves you depends on where the charge was filed. This page explains how that system is organized and how to reach the county offices in our listings.

A County-Run System With State Standards in Indiana

Public defense in Indiana is mostly a county responsibility. Each county decides how to supply lawyers to people who qualify. Some run a full-time public defender office. Others hire a part-time chief public defender who works with contract attorneys. Others keep a list of private lawyers and let the judge appoint them case by case. Many counties mix these approaches from one courtroom to the next. The county council and county commissioners set the budget, and local judges often help select or supervise the lawyers.

The state's role is oversight and money. The Indiana Public Defender Commission, created by statute in the late 1980s, sets standards for counties that choose to take part. The standards cover caseload limits, attorney qualifications and pay for appointed work. In return, participating counties can be reimbursed from a state public defense fund for part of their costs. Because participation is generally a county decision, staffing and quality can differ from one county line to the next. Death penalty cases follow separate qualification rules set by the Indiana Supreme Court.

Two other state bodies are worth knowing. The Indiana Public Defender Council trains and supports defenders across the state. The Office of the State Public Defender can represent some indigent prisoners in post-conviction proceedings. Neither one takes a new trial-level case. That goes through the county where you were charged.

Who Qualifies for a Public Defender in Indiana Courts

A judge decides whether you qualify, usually at your initial hearing shortly after arrest. The judge reads the charges, explains your right to a lawyer, and asks whether you can pay for one. If you say you cannot, you will be asked to fill out a financial form. It lists your income, property, debts and the number of people who depend on you.

Indiana does not set a single income cutoff in the statute. Judges look at the whole picture, including whether you work, own assets, or can borrow money. Posting bond can be one factor, though it does not automatically disqualify you. Answer the form honestly. A false statement can create new problems, and the court can revisit its decision later.

Appointed counsel is not always free in the end. An Indiana court may order a defendant who is later found able to pay to reimburse the county for some or all of the defense cost. Some counties also charge an administrative fee at appointment. Amounts differ by county, so ask the court clerk or your lawyer what applies to you.

Appointed counsel is generally available in these situations:

It generally does not cover traffic infractions, small civil disputes, divorces or evictions. For those, Indiana Legal Services and local bar association clinics are the usual starting points.

Metro and Rural Public Defender Offices Across Indiana

Where you live shapes the experience. Marion County, which includes Indianapolis, has the state's largest caseload. Its listed office, the Marion County Public Defender, is at 151 North Delaware Street and can be reached at 317-327-4100. In the northwest corner near Chicago, the Lake County Public Defender is listed at 2293 North Main Street in Crown Point, phone 219-755-3550. Large urban offices tend to have intake staff, investigators and attorneys who specialize in felonies, misdemeanors or juvenile matters.

Smaller counties work differently. The Noble County Public Defender at 110 East Jefferson Street in Albion answers at 260-636-6688. Adams County's office is at 313 West Jefferson Street in Decatur, phone 260-724-5365. In counties like these, a chief public defender may coordinate a small group of lawyers who also keep private practices. The person you meet may cover several courtrooms in a single day.

Mid-sized and college-town counties fall in between. The Monroe County Public Defender is at 304 North Morton Street in Bloomington, phone 812-349-2590. Delaware County lists its office at 100 West Washington Street in Muncie, and Howard County lists one at 104 North Buckeye Street in Kokomo. Vigo County's office is at 111 Oak Street in Terre Haute.

Southern and Eastern Indiana Offices

Along the Ohio River, Clark County's office is at 501 East Court Avenue in Jeffersonville, phone 812-285-6292. Floyd County's is at 311 Hauss Square in New Albany, phone 812-981-0350. Eastern and central counties in our listings include Wayne in Richmond, Henry in New Castle, Rush in Rushville and Shelby in Shelbyville. Washington County's office is on Martinsburg Road in Salem.

The practical differences are real. In a metro county, a lawyer may be assigned within a day or two of your hearing, and your case may move through a specialty court such as drug court. In a rural county, you may first meet your lawyer in a courthouse hallway before a hearing, and getting to the office may take planning. Staff often cannot discuss a case until the court has appointed the office, so call after your hearing rather than before.

Steps to Take When You Need Appointed Counsel in Indiana

Start at the initial hearing. Say plainly that you cannot afford a lawyer and want one appointed. Do not wait for the judge to guess. Avoid discussing the facts of your case with police, jail staff or other inmates before you have a lawyer.

Gather documents for the financial form. A photo ID, your charging papers or court notice, recent pay stubs or benefit letters, and a list of monthly expenses cover most of what a judge wants. Write down your cause number. Court staff and defender offices use it to find your file quickly.

After the appointment, contact the office for the county where the case was filed, not the county where you live. Someone who lives in Indianapolis but was charged in Vigo County deals with the Vigo County office in Terre Haute, phone 812-462-3309. Call to confirm hours and location before you travel, because county offices sometimes move or share space with other departments.

Keep your phone number and address current with both your lawyer and the court. Missing a hearing can lead to an arrest warrant, no matter how strong your defense is. If you are unhappy with your appointed lawyer, raise it with the lawyer first and then with the chief public defender. A judge may replace counsel for good cause, such as a conflict of interest, but not usually over a disagreement about strategy.

Public defender services in Indiana are organized either through a statewide public defender commission or at the county level, depending on the state's approach to indigent defense. Indiana's system determines how public defender offices are funded, staffed, and assigned, which can affect caseloads and services available at each location.

Public Defenders locations are available in 20 cities across Indiana. They are spread across 19 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of public defender offices include Elkhart, New Albany, Greencastle, where larger court systems generate higher volumes of criminal cases requiring public defense services.

Defendants in Indiana who believe they qualify for a public defender should not attempt to represent themselves in criminal proceedings. Requesting appointed counsel at your first court appearance is your constitutional right, and the process for establishing eligibility is handled by the court.

Public Defenders by Counties

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Individuals in Indiana who are assigned a public defender should make every scheduled court date, stay in contact with their assigned attorney, and promptly provide any information or documentation their attorney requests. If you cannot reach your public defender, contact the main office directly to ensure your case is properly managed before any upcoming hearings.

Browse Public Defenders by county across Indiana to find the nearest location.

Reading Indiana Public Defender Listings by County

Some listing titles need a quick translation. The entry called Green County Public Defender in Bloomfield serves Greene County, so use the Greene County page for details. The Green Castle Public Defender at 1 Courthouse Square belongs to Putnam County, whose seat is Greencastle. Titles come from the records we hold, so if a name or address looks off, confirm it with the county courthouse.

Elkhart County has two listings: one in Elkhart at 315 South 2nd Street, phone 574-523-2318, and one in Goshen, the county seat. Ask which location handles your case before you drive over.

Before any visit, call ahead and bring a photo ID, your court notice and proof of income. Many county offices keep weekday business hours only. Most cannot take walk-in emergencies, and none can appoint themselves without a court order.

Frequently Asked Questions About Public Defenders in Indiana

Possibly, in part. The court appoints a lawyer if you cannot afford one, and you are not billed up front the way you would be by a private attorney. However, Indiana judges may order a defendant to repay some or all of the cost of appointed counsel if the person turns out to have the means. Some counties also add an administrative fee when counsel is appointed. The amount and timing depend on the county and the judge. Ask your public defender or the court clerk what applies, and tell the court if your finances change.

Ask at your initial hearing. The judge will explain your rights and ask whether you want a lawyer and can afford one. You then complete a financial statement, and the judge decides whether to appoint the county's public defender or another attorney. If you miss that chance, tell the court clerk or write to the judge as soon as possible. You can also call the county office listed on this page, but the court must make the appointment. Have your cause number, court date and proof of income ready when you call.

The county where the case was filed controls, not your home address. A charge filed in Vigo County goes to the Vigo County courts and its appointed counsel, even if you live in Marion County. Your summons or charging paperwork shows the court and cause number. If your lawyer is in a distant county, ask early about phone or video meetings, and plan travel for hearings that require you to appear in person. Missing a hearing in any county can result in an arrest warrant.

Generally no. The judge appoints the office or attorney the county uses, and you do not pick from a list. If there is a real conflict of interest, such as the office already representing a co-defendant, the court appoints someone else. Disagreeing with strategy is usually not enough to get a replacement. Raise concerns with the lawyer first, then the chief public defender, and then the judge if the problem continues. If you can afford it, you may hire a private lawyer at any time, and the appointed lawyer will typically withdraw.

After a direct appeal, the usual route is a petition for post-conviction relief filed in the court where you were convicted. Indiana has an Office of the State Public Defender that can represent some indigent prisoners on those petitions in felony cases. Ask prison law library staff for the form and the correct address. Deadlines and grounds for relief are strict, so do not wait. County public defender offices generally do not take on these petitions, and they cannot be used for new charges against you.

Yes, in many situations. A child accused of delinquency has the right to counsel, and the court appoints one if the family cannot pay. Parents in Child in Need of Services and termination of parental rights cases can also ask for appointed counsel if they cannot afford it. These cases go through juvenile court, and county arrangements differ. Some counties use their public defender office, while others use separate contract attorneys. Ask the juvenile court clerk who is appointed, and request counsel at the first hearing.