Happy Thanksgiving from the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office!🍂    We’re grateful for the opportunity to serve, advocate, and uplift our communities every day.

November is Native American Heritage Month. We honor the histories, cultures, and enduring contributions of Native American and Indigenous communities—including the Tribal Nations whose ancestral lands make up Los Angeles County.

Prop 36 promised more access to treatment for people struggling with addiction. But one year after its passing, the lack of available residential treatment has resulted in more incarceration instead.   Read the full Vanguard News Group story through the link in our bio.

As we look at how Prop 36 has been implemented this past year, the data is showing how people are being set up to fail-telling them they’re going to get treatment, but not having the beds to send them to. Read and watch more from Spectrum News 1 through the link in our bio 🔗

We were thrilled to participate in @lacJCOD’s Together We Thrive summit, providing expungement services. In the afternoon @rdg_lapubdef was a featured speaker on the “Road to Safer Communities” panel alongside several other Justice stakeholders.

Happy International Men’s Day! We're recognizing the men who show up, work hard, and lead with integrity. Did you know that men make up around 40% of the LA Public Defender team? Today, we celebrate their dedication and the impact they make in our community every day.

One year after Prop 36, thousands of Californians were promised care, treatment, and a path to recovery — but instead, they’ve received court dates, charges, and jail time. Read more from the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties: link in bio.

One year after Prop. 36, thousands of more people are being prosecuted, but still waiting for the treatment they were promised. Read the Los Angeles Daily News story featuring L.A. County Public Defender Ricardo D. García through the link in our bio.

Recently on NPR, the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office was highlighted for its groundbreaking Neurocognitive Disorders Team — one of the only units of its kind in the nation. Our NDT team works with clients whose cognitive disabilities have gone unidentified for most of their lives.

Rain is expected across Los Angeles County starting Thursday, November 13 through Sunday, November 16, with the potential for debris flows in recent burn scar areas. Visit ready.lacounty.gov/rain for preparedness tips. Sign up for emergency alerts at alert.lacounty.gov.

Today is Veterans Day and we are taking the time to thank and honor all of those who have served. Learn more about how we support our veterans in Los Angeles County through our Veteran Court Program by visiting the link in our bio.

Join the Nation’s oldest, largest, and finest indigent criminal defense agency as a Deputy Public Defender! We are looking for attorneys who are admitted with the California Bar Association to practice law in all courts in California to join our team of Public Defenders.

This November 2025, our office will be providing services at various locations around LA County! For more information click the link in our bio 🔗

Time to start presenting awards! Our first award, the Clara Shortridge Award, commends a public defender program for outstanding achievement in providing of indigent defense services. This year's honoree is @partnersforjustice.bsky.social, thanking them for their work with @lapubdef.bsky.social.

The federal shutdown is affecting our community. If you or your family need food assistance, visit LAFoodBank.org/findfood or call 211 — and if you can, please donate to your local food bank or pantry to help those in need.

Justice takes a team. Today we're recognizing the paralegals on our team who help make our mission possible. Committed, skilled, precise - essential to public defense. Thank you to our paralegals for all you do!

We are also honored be part of two other PQA award winning programs: Saving Lives with Safety Locks and Silver Eagle Award Winner JCOD’s LA County Training Center.

We are so proud of our groundbreaking program, Community Outreach Court (COC), for being a TOP TEN award winner at the 38th Annual LA County Productivity and Quality Awards! COC has served over 1,000+ individuals, resolved hundreds of infractions, and received national recognition.

October is Filipino American History Month! It’s a time to commemorate the contributions of Filipino Americans to Los Angeles County’s diverse cultural tapestry and celebrate their rich cultural heritage.

In observance of this County holiday, our office hours and services will be limited, however, the Court will be open and operational. Should you require assistance, please contact our office. We will resume regular business hours and services on Tuesday October 14, 2025.

Today we commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day by recognizing the resilience and diversity of indigenous communities locally and nationwide.

This October we are celebrating Hindu American Heritage Month! As we honor the remarkable contributions of the Hindu American community, we recognize the enduring legacy of a rich cultural and philosophical tradition.

Last month, our office hosted the LA County Youth Defense Symposium-a full-day event focused on advancing racial justice and effective youth advocacy through the lens of AB 2542 (Racial Justice Act) and AB 256 (RJA Expansion).

This October 2025, our office will be providing services at various locations around LA County! For more information click the link in our bio 🔗

Beyond legal support, COC connects participants with housing resources, mental health care, and other essential services, offering a more holistic approach to addressing the needs of our unhoused population. Join us for the next COC, October 16! Link in bio for more information

What makes Community Outreach Court so effective is the collaboration between departments and social service programs. Join us and our partners at the next Community Outreach Court October 16 🔗 for more information tap the link in our bio

Shoutout to @lapubdefunion for organizing and fundraising ahead of today, and kudos to all who ran, walked or cheered on #teampublicdefender from the sidelines!

This weekend, a group of LA Public Defenders proudly crossed the finish line at the annual @homeboyindustries 5K Run, in support of a life-changing organization that uplifts our communities through hope, job training, and healing.

This past Thursday was Community Outreach Court! It was a busy morning helping people transition away from the criminal legal system and connect with resources like  stable housing and sustainable employment. Join us at our next COC event on 10.16 - link in our bio for more info!

Apply today to join the nation’s first and finest indigent criminal defense agency as the Departmental Chief Information Officer II! 🔗 Click the link in our bio to apply today!

This September we are spotlighting our Community Outreach Court (COC) — a pioneering initiative designed to assist individuals experiencing homelessness resolve legal barriers that prevent access to critical services such as housing, employment, and social support.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone and support is available to you. Dial 9-8-8 for support with a suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Here at the LA County Public Defender’s Office, we recognize how mental health challenges touches every community-including our clients, colleagues, friends, and families.

Celebrating Labor Day today! In observance of this holiday, our office hours and services will be impacted. We will resume regular business hours Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Cash bail “punishes people by keeping them caged simply because they cannot afford to pay.“ Any policies that undo progress toward a more just criminal legal system have a ripple effect. Read more from the @latimes

Apply today to join the Nation’s oldest, largest, and finest indigent criminal defense agency as an Investigator II!

Youth Services Division Chief Luis Rodriguez spoke up at the last @lacountypoc meeting about how the probation department's troubling lack of staffing is impacting support for our clients, including those showing up to fulfill their assigned community service. Read more @ladailynews - link in bio 🔗

Assistant Public Defender Haydeh Takasugi speaks to @lapublicpress on the unreasonable bail amounts and unfairly stacked enhancements for anyone in custody, including those involved in recent demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement.

This weekend, our “Swinging for De-Fenses” team took to the field to represent Public Defenders in a friendly softball game! Thank you to everyone who came out to support, cheer, and connect ! 🏟️

Our mobile unit was at @baldwinpark_cagov "Street Market in the Park." providing expungement services. To learn more about our expungement services and where we will be next, click the link in our bio. Pictured is our Assistant Public Defender Traci with Baldwin Park Officials.

🚨EXPUNGEMENT EVENT🚨 Our Mobile Unit will be providing expungement services at the City of Baldwin Park’s “Street Markets in the Park” event today!

The Canyon Fire is currently burning between LA County & Ventura County in the Piru Lake area. Several zones are under evacuation orders and warnings. Please monitor lacounty.gov/emergency for the latest info. To sign up for emergency alerts, visit alert.lacounty.gov.

This month is Pride Disability Month! This July, we honored the courage and resilience of people with disabilities in our community. Together, we break down barriers and fight for equal rights and dignity for every member of our community.

Celebrating the end of summer with pics and pops in the park! This summer, 150 interns and law clerks joined our offices, and to mark the end of their programs, we enjoyed some some paletas in the park. Wishing you all the best in the next steps of your journey!

Criminalizing homelessness is not a solution

BREAKING: President Trump signed an executive order directing states to criminalize and institutionalize people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and mental health disabilities.

LA County Public Defender responds to Attorney General’s call for receivership of County Juvenile Halls

Join us in welcoming a new class of Deputy Public Defenders! On day one, @rdg_lapubdef, Chief Deputy Justine Esack and Chief of Staff John Mathews welcomed the group and engaged in a Q&A panel discussion.

As Prop 36 cases continue to rise, we are seeing more and more signs that it is causing more harm than good - especially for communities of color. Public Defender Ricardo Garcia continues to speak out about the negative impacts of Prop 36 in Los Angeles County in a conversation with Black Voice News

Join the Nation’s oldest, largest, and finest indigent criminal defense agency as a Deputy Public Defender! We are looking for attorneys who are admitted with the California Bar Association to practice law in all courts in California to join our team of Public Defenders.