PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE

By: Jessica Machovec

The Office of the State Public Defender is responsible for coordinating Iowa's Indigent
Defense System. Our mission is to ensure that all impoverished persons in Iowa are provided
high quality legal representation in criminal, juvenile, and other eligible proceedings in the
most efficient and economically responsible manner.

• Defend those who cannot afford a
lawyer
• Everyone gets a chance at justice
AGENCY
• Take papers to jail to sign
• Watch videos (body cams,
street cameras, interview videos)

• Watch trials
• Attend trial dates, argue for your client
• Be a listener
• Communication skills, and organization
skills must be strong
 ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

Written rules Unwritten

• Stay organized
• Refrain from bias toward different
groups of people
• Do what is best for client but also
follow what your client wants
• Self care is important – have a
hobby
• Not everyone wants to be helped
• Know what cases you can win and
ones you can’t
• You cannot want it more than client
 JOB DETAILS
• Learn as you go (need to know DSM-5, how to talk to clients, do not use law
jargon with clients)

• Good job for:

• Those who want justice for all

• Who want to be a voice for people

• Recognize their own biases

 JOB DESCRIPTION

• Drawbacks: overworked, set budget is low, high burnout

• Do not need social work degree but need a law degree

• Treat people differently depending how often they see them

• The more they deal with the person, the less they want to help them and they no
longer care
 AGENCIES WE WORK WITH
• Police
• Judges
• Prosecutors
• Parole Officers
• Other Defenders in Iowa
• SASC
• Mercy medical center (Two North)
• Halfway houses
• Experts who we call in for trials
 ENJOYMENTS
• New perspective in defending the alleged suspect
• Acted as an encourager after trials
• Let me work with everyone
• Would recommend (Helps if you have interest in how the law works)