Maryland handles criminal defense for people who cannot afford a lawyer through one statewide agency, the Office of the Public Defender. A charge in Baltimore, Bel Air, Cumberland or Salisbury therefore leads to the same agency, the same application process and the same constitutional right to counsel. This page explains how the Maryland system is organized, how metro and rural offices differ, and how to reach the right one. Every address and phone number below comes from our directory database.

How Maryland's Statewide Public Defender System Is Organized

Some states leave defense to each county. Maryland created a single state agency instead. The Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) dates to the Public Defender Act of 1971 and is governed today by Title 16 of the Criminal Procedure Article of the Maryland Code. A State Public Defender leads the agency, and a Board of Trustees provides oversight. Its attorneys are state employees paid through the state budget, not county tax rolls.

The legal foundation is the Sixth Amendment, applied to the states in Gideon v. Wainwright in 1963. If you face possible jail time and cannot afford an attorney, the court must make sure you have one. In Maryland, the OPD supplies that lawyer in most cases.

The agency is divided into districts that follow the state's court districts. Each district has a district public defender who supervises attorneys, investigators and support staff. Most offices in our directory are these district or county offices. A few listings carry statewide names. The Mary Land State Public Defender listing at 6 Saint Paul Street in Baltimore (410-767-8460) reflects the agency's central presence. The Maryland Public Defender listing at 6411 Ivy Lane in Greenbelt (301-344-0600) and the Maryland State Public Defender listing at 200 Kent Avenue in La Plata (301-539-7370) also carry state-level names. Call before visiting to confirm what each location handles.

What a Maryland Public Defender Will and Will Not Handle

The OPD represents people in criminal and closely related proceedings. That includes charges in District Court and circuit court, juvenile delinquency cases, appeals, post-conviction proceedings, and parole or probation revocation hearings. The agency also covers certain involuntary mental health commitment matters and some child welfare cases.

Divorce, custody, evictions, consumer debt and immigration cases fall outside its role. For those, you need a private attorney, a legal aid organization or a court help center.

Metro Maryland: Towson, Baltimore and the Washington Suburbs

The heaviest caseloads sit in the central and capital-region counties. The Baltimore County office, the Baltimore County Public Defender, is at 200 Washington Avenue in Towson (410-324-8900). The state-level listing at 6 Saint Paul Street is in downtown Baltimore. Baltimore City is an independent city, not part of Baltimore County. Contact the office that matches where your case was filed, not simply where you live.

In the Washington suburbs, Prince George's County has the most listings in our database. The Prince George's County Public Defender is at 4990 Rhode Island Avenue in Hyattsville (301-699-2760), and the Greenbelt listing is at 6411 Ivy Lane. When one county has more than one listing, ask which location covers your charge. The answer can depend on the courthouse and the type of case, so keep your charging document or summons next to the phone.

Montgomery County's listing is the Montgomery County Public Defender at 199 East Montgomery Avenue in Rockville (240-777-7058). To the northwest, the Frederick County listing is the Frederick County Public Defender at 100 West Patrick Street (301-600-1988). Northeast of Baltimore, the Harford County listing is the Harford County Public Defender at 2 South Bond Street in Bel Air (410-836-4880). Carroll County residents will find the Westminster Public Defender at 101 N Court St, Ste PD (410-871-3636). Near the Delaware line, the Cecil County Public Defender is at 170 East Main Street in Elkton (410-996-2850).

Rural Maryland: Western Counties and the Eastern Shore

Outside the Baltimore-Washington corridor, offices are smaller and cover wider areas. In the west, the Allegany County Public Defender is at 248 North Mechanic Street in Cumberland (301-777-2142). The Washington County Public Defender is at 100 West Franklin Street in Hagerstown (301-791-4735). The Garrett County Public Defender is at 105 South 2nd Street in Oakland (301-334-9196). Garrett is Maryland's westernmost county, and winter driving can stretch a short trip, so allow extra time.

The Eastern Shore listings are named by town. They include the Cambridge Public Defender (310 Gay Street, 410-221-2570), the Chestertown Public Defender (115 Court Street, 410-778-0809) and the Denton Public Defender (110 Franklin Street, 410-479-5756). The Talbot County Public Defender is at 301 Bay Street in Easton (410-820-6100). Farther south are the Salisbury Public Defender (201 Baptist Street, 410-713-3400), the Snow Hill Public Defender (203 River Street, 410-632-1933) and the Somerset County Public Defender (30509 Prince William Street in Princess Anne, 410-651-3271).

In Southern Maryland, the Calvert County Public Defender is at 200 Duke Street in Prince Frederick (410-535-8810). The La Plata listing sits in Charles County.

Small offices often mean you reach a receptionist or voicemail before a lawyer. Leave your full name, case number, court date and a working phone number. Attorneys frequently cover a whole day's docket, so the person you meet may be new to your file. Bring everything you have.

Eligibility and Documents for a Maryland Public Defender

Eligibility turns on financial need and the type of case, and the agency decides it through an application. Staff look at your income, assets, household size and essential expenses. Having a job does not automatically disqualify you, and being unemployed does not guarantee approval. If you are denied, ask about the review process and whether a judge can look at your request at your hearing.

Have these items ready when you call or visit:

Steps to Reach the Right Maryland Public Defender Office

First, find your court. The charging document lists the court and case number. Second, match that court to the office by county or town, using the addresses above. Third, call and ask how to apply and whether the office sees people by appointment or walk-in.

Never skip a court date while you wait for a lawyer. A missed appearance can lead to a bench warrant, whatever the status of your application. If you cannot reach the local office, try the state-level listings in Baltimore, Greenbelt or La Plata as a starting point.

Public defender services in Maryland are organized either through a statewide public defender commission or at the county level, depending on the state's approach to indigent defense. Maryland'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 23 cities across Maryland. They are spread across 20 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration of public defender offices include Denton, Baltimore, Elkton, where larger court systems generate higher volumes of criminal cases requiring public defense services.

Defendants in Maryland 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 Maryland 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 Maryland to find the nearest location.

Local Notes for Reaching a Maryland Public Defender Office

Most Maryland public defender offices sit close to the courthouse they serve, usually in or near the county seat. Examples include the Harford County Public Defender on South Bond Street in Bel Air, the Cecil County Public Defender on East Main Street in Elkton and the Westminster Public Defender on North Court Street in Carroll County. Offices in Chestertown, Denton and Princess Anne serve small communities, so expect a smaller waiting area and fewer staff on site.

Before you go, check three things. First, confirm the address and suite number. The Westminster listing includes a suite designation, Ste PD, at 101 N Court St. Second, ask whether the office takes walk-ins or prefers appointments. Third, ask which documents to bring. Courthouse parking and security screening can add time, so arrive early.

Keep your paperwork in one folder: court notices, bail documents, pay stubs and any letters from the prosecutor. Write down each call with the date, the name of the person you spoke to and what they said. If your address or phone number changes, tell both the court and your attorney's office at once, because missed notices cause missed hearings.

Questions About Public Defenders in Maryland

Eligibility depends on your finances and the charge you face. The Office of the Public Defender reviews your income, assets, household size and necessary expenses when you apply. People with very low income are generally accepted, but the agency looks at the whole picture rather than one number, so do not assume you are ineligible because you have a job. If you are turned down, ask the office how to seek review, or whether you can ask the judge to consider your request at your court date. Ask the district office handling your case for current guidelines, since thresholds can change.

In DeWolfe v. Richmond (2012), the state's highest court, then called the Court of Appeals, held that defendants have a right to counsel at the initial bail hearing before a District Court commissioner. The General Assembly then passed a 2013 law that shaped how representation works, with attention on bail review hearings before a judge. Bail procedures have continued to change since then, so treat this as background, not current instructions. If someone has been arrested, call the district office quickly, ask about a bail review, and have the charging document and booking information ready.

The Baltimore County Public Defender is at 200 Washington Avenue in Towson, phone 410-324-8900. Baltimore City is a separate jurisdiction with its own courts, so a case filed in the city is not handled from Towson. The Mary Land State Public Defender listing at 6 Saint Paul Street in Baltimore, phone 410-767-8460, is the agency's central listing in the city. If you are unsure where your case was filed, check the charging document or call the court clerk first. Then call the matching office with the court name and case number ready.

In Allegany County, the Allegany County Public Defender is at 248 North Mechanic Street in Cumberland (301-777-2142). In Hagerstown, the Washington County Public Defender is at 100 West Franklin Street (301-791-4735). Garrett County's office is the Garrett County Public Defender at 105 South 2nd Street in Oakland (301-334-9196). Distances between these towns are real, especially in winter. Call ahead to confirm hours, ask whether a first conversation can happen by phone, and arrive early on court days. Keep your case number handy so staff can find your file quickly.

In Talbot County, the Talbot County Public Defender is at 301 Bay Street in Easton (410-820-6100). Nearby are the Cambridge Public Defender at 310 Gay Street (410-221-2570), the Denton Public Defender at 110 Franklin Street (410-479-5756) and the Chestertown Public Defender at 115 Court Street (410-778-0809). Farther south are the Salisbury Public Defender at 201 Baptist Street (410-713-3400), the Snow Hill Public Defender at 203 River Street (410-632-1933) and the Somerset County Public Defender in Princess Anne (410-651-3271). Match the office to the county where the case was filed.

Generally, no. The Office of the Public Defender focuses on criminal, juvenile and related proceedings. Civil problems such as evictions, family law and debt usually go to a private lawyer, Maryland Legal Aid or a court help center run by the Maryland Judiciary. Expungement and record-clearing questions can be a gray area, so ask the district office whether it can assist or whether it can point you to another resource. When you call, have your original case number and the outcome of that case, since those details affect whether a record-clearing request is possible.