The Public Defender's Office provides constitutionally mandated indigent defense services in all criminal matters as required by the U.S. Constitution and represents clients in Juvenile Dependency, Conservatorship, and CARE Act cases. The San Joaquin County Public Defender's Office is dedicated to serving the diverse needs of the community and its justice system by furnishing clients whose cases have been entrusted to the Office with competent, effective, loyal, ethical, zealous, compassionate, and efficient advocacy.
The 2025-2026 operating budget for the Public Defender's Office is $40,014,174.
The 2025-2026 budget includes 120 full-time positions or 127.1 total positions (including part-time and temporary staff).
Our team consists of the following full-time positions: