The Northumberland County Office of Special & Conflicts Counsel Special & Conflicts Office provides quality legal defense to persons who cannot afford private counsel in criminal defense, juvenile delinquency and dependency Children & Youth cases), mental health commitment proceedings, and state parole revocations and appeals related to these cases in Northumberland County. Established as the county’s “second public defender office,” it aims to control and stabilize the costs of providing indigent defense services and ensure the rights of individuals subject to mental health and Children & Youth proceedings are protected.

Our attorneys are court-appointed to several specific kinds of cases:

   1.  All parents and/or custodians of children for whom Northumberland County Children & Youth Services seeks or continues to have custody of and children who remain in the home with court-ordered protective services.

   2. All Northumberland County residents for whom involuntary mental health treatment is sought.

   3. All Post Conviction Relief proceedings for indigent individuals convicted of crimes, regardless of whether the trial attorney was private or through the public defender’s office.

   4. All State parole revocation hearings for inmates housed at SCI Coal Township (while grant funding is available – will revert to the public defender’s office).

   5. Criminal and/or delinquency cases felony and misdemeanor criminal cases for indigent adults and juvenile defendants that the Public Defender’s office is unable to represent a client due to a conflict of interest.

    6. Superior and/or Pennsylvania Supreme Court Appeals for all of the above-described cases as appropriate.

Special, Conflict, and Independent Counsel Attorneys offer primary legal representation in most cases and first, second and third level conflict representation in others. They are dedicated to providing zealous and effective legal representation to those who cannot afford private counsel. The services provided ensure that the County legal system achieves just results for all Northumberland County residents.