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New Jersey Office of the Public Defender
ADDRESS
Hughes Justice Complex, 25 Market Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
PHONE
609-292-7087
609-292-4081 - Mercer Regional Office
FAX
609-777-1795
INTERNET ADDRESS
http://www.state.nj.us/defender
ADMINISTRATOR
Yvonne Smith Segars, Public Defender
CONTACT NAME
Dale Jones, Acting Public Information Officer
DESCRIPTION
A state government agency which represents indigent criminal
and juvenile defendents, provides law guardians for children who
are victims of abuse and neglect, provides consitutionally-
mandated representation for individuals at voluntary and
involuntary psychiatric commitment hearings, and represents
the developmentally disabled in guardianship matters. It also
provides dispute resolution and consensus building services in
public interest disputes. There are regional offices in all 21
counties.
PROGRAMS
Office of Dispute Settlement: Provides a wide range of dispute
resolution and consensus building services including mediation,
arbitration and fact finding in complex, public interest disputes,
only with the approval of the disputing parties. It provides field
training in dispute resolution techniques, and also administers
the dispute resolution component between builders and new
home owners under the State New Home Warranty Program .
Eric Max, Director; 609-292-1773.
Division of Mental Health & Guardianship Advocacy: Provides
constitutionally-mandated legal representations for indigent
individuals at voluntary and involuntary psychiatric commitment
hearings. Also provides guardianship representation for
persons with developmental disabilities. Patrick Reilly, Director;
609-292-1780.
Law Guardian Program: Offers legal representation for victims
of child abuse and neglect and probes allegations of abuse at
facilities operated by the State Division of Youth and Family
Services (DYFS). James Louis, Deputy; 609-292-0220.
Parental Representation Unit: Provides constitutionally
mandated legal representation to adults charged in New
Jersey's Family Court with child abuse and/or neglect. With
family reunification the goal if possible, the PRU works to both
defend parents and help them cooperate with counseling and
other services that could give them the skills to reunite with
their children. Sadie Davis, Director - 609-341-3832.
Intensive Supervision Unit: Provides legal representation for
clients who apply to the state's Intensive Supervision Program,
which allows alternative forms of correctional supervision for
offenders to serve their sentences outside traditional prison
settings. Larry Bembery, Director - 609-292-7087.
Drug Court: gives non-violent drug offenders a chance to avoid
prison time by entering a strictly monitored program in which
they must make every effort to remove the influence of drugs
from their lives. Applicants must undergo a rigorous screening
process. If they prove to be eligible they receive help in
everything from addiction services to finding and keeping a job.
Larry Bembery, Director. 609-292-7087.
FOUNDED
1967
SUBJECTS
Legal Services
LAST UPDATED
7/08