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Public Defenders Trained
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Counties Serviced
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Members
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Available Resources
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Who We Are

The Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania (PDAP) is a non-profit corporation whose membership consists of all Public Defender attorneys and other core staff employed full or part time in Pennsylvania’s 67 county Public Defender offices of this Commonwealth.
 

Incorporated in 1971, PDAP is a statewide community of Public Defenders dedicated to securing a fair justice system and ensuring high quality legal representation for people facing loss of life, freedom or family. Our mission is to provide tools, strategies, mutual support, training, and information to Public Defender offices; to be the voice of public defense; and to promote best practices in the leadership, management, and administration of justice in Pennsylvania.

PDAP operates according to the following core values:

  • Empowering Public Defenders to lead by embracing improvement and change while learning from our community
  • Showcasing and improving justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion across the criminal legal system
  • Promoting client centered, appropriately resourced, holistic defense
  • Educating, inspiring, and advocating for PDs through a fun, supportive, and collaborative community
  • Developing, maintaining, and improving the infrastructure of public defense

Upcoming Events

February 11-12, 2025

Advanced Cross Training (Bring Your Own Case)

February 25, 2025

Navigating PA's Prisons & Jails

February 26, 2025

ACCR/PDAP Capital Case Series: Trauma Informed Advocacy

Public Defenders by County

Click to learn more about each of PA’s Public Defender offices.
Adams Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Bedford Berks Blair Bradford Bucks Butler Cambria Cameron Carbon Centre Chester Clarion Clearfield Clinton Columbia Crawford Cumberland Dauphin Delaware Elk Erie Fayette Forest Franklin Fulton Greene Huntingdon Indiana Jefferson Juniata Lackawanna Lancaster Lawrence Lebanon Lehigh Luzerne Lycoming McKean Mercer Mifflin Monroe Montgomery Montour Northampton Northumberland Perry Philadelphia Pike Potter Schuylkill Snyder Somerset Sullivan Susquehanna Tioga Union Venango Warren Washington Wayne Westmoreland Wyoming York

Questions? Find Your Solution Here

The Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania (PDAP) is a non-profit corporation whose membership consists of public defenders employed full or part time in Pennsylvania’s 67 county public defender offices of this Commonwealth.  

Incorporated in 1971, PDAP is a statewide community of public defenders dedicated to securing a fair justice system and ensuring high quality legal representation for people facing loss of life, freedom or family.

We provide training and support services to Public Defender’s offices across Pennsylvania.

Yes, please contact our Assistant Training Directors (Elizabeth Wood-Bennett or Andrew Capone). Please include as many specifics about what training you are looking for and we will reach out to you to help.

No, PDAP does not provide direct representation. To find contact information for the Public Defender’s office in your county, please see the interactive map above.

The term “Public Defender” refers to anyone who works in a PD office – attorneys, paralegals, Social Workers and social service advocates, mitigators, investigators, administrative and support staff.

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Check out the available resources and training materials developed for Public Defenders by Public Defenders in Pennsylvania.