Agency Overview
Organization Chart & Agency Map
Agency Satellite Offices
Altus:
103 S. Hudson
Altus, OK 73521
Tel (580) 782-2429
Fax (580) 782-9260
Cleveland County (Norman):
111 N. Peters Ave - 5th Floor
Norman, OK 73069
Tel (405) 801-2636
Fax (405) 801-2651
Clinton:
823 Frisco
Clinton, OK 73601
Tel (580) 323-2951
Fax (580) 323-0982
Enid:
205 W Maple Ave, Suite 410
Enid, OK 73701
Tel (580) 977-2040
Fax (405) 900-8377
El Reno:
220 N. Admire
El Reno, OK 73036
Tel (405) 295-2782
Fax (572) 213-3660
Guymon:
1001 N. Main St
Guymon, OK 73942
Tel (580) 338-8120
Tel (580) 338-8123
Fax (580) 338-8122
Lawton:
1318 SW Lee Blvd
Lawton, OK 73501
Tel (580) 595-7990
Fax (405) 900-8376
Okmulgee:
205 S. Grand Ave.
Okmulgee, OK 74447-0998
Tel (918) 752-0447
Fax (918) 752-0450
Poteau:
507 Dewey Ave.
Poteau, OK 74953
Tel (405) 801-2601
Fax
Pryor:
22 S. Admire Ave.
Pryor, OK 74361
Tel (405) 801-2601
Fax
Sapulpa:
10169 State Highway 66
Ste B
Tel (918) 248-7835
Fax (918) 248-8665
Woodward:
1111 Hillcrest Dr.
Woodward, OK 73801
Tel (580) 331-6305
Programs
- General Operations Program
- Trial Program
- Appellate Program
The Executive Division is charged with the responsibility of managing and operating the agency and implementing the Indigent Defense Act, found in Sections 1355 -1370.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes. By statute, the Executive Director is selected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board.
To aid the Executive Director in the implementation of the Indigent Defense Act and agency operations, the Deputy Executive Director oversees the System's Finance Unit along with all administrative functions within the agency. The Finance Unit maintains hundreds of contracts each year with private attorneys and expert service providers in Oklahoma, and processes claims for payment of those professional services.
The powers and duties of the Executive Director are set out in the Indigent Defense Act at Section 1355.4 of Title 22. In addition to being responsible for the overall operations of the agency, the Executive Director is required by statute to take actions to improve the criminal justice system in the State, to provide training and continuing legal education to indigent defenders throughout the State, to recommend legislation, to submit an annual report on the implementation of the Indigent Defense Act, and to take measures to ensure effective representation for indigent criminal defendants.
When conflicts of interest make it impossible for the System to represent an indigent defendant, the case is contracted to private counsel willing to provide legal services at rates established by the System. The Executive Division is responsible for providing conflict counsel and defense services in all capital trial and appeal cases and non-capital appeals.
Trial Program consists of three divisions which provide representation to agency clients who have been judicially determined to be unable to afford counsel to defend against charges brought by the State. The right to counsel at State expense was established by the United States Supreme Court in Gideon v. Wainwright, 371 U.S. 335 (1963). The right to expert assistance at State expense was established by the United States Supreme Court in Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68 (1985). The purpose of the Trial Program is to fulfill the State’s obligations that accompany the right to represent a defense to criminal charges, including requirements imposed by the Federal Constitution.
The Non-Capital Trial Division is responsible for providing defense representation for the agency’s largest group of court-appointed clients. It is responsible for providing services in 75 of the State’s counties, excluding Oklahoma and Tulsa counties.
The division provides legal defense services in four ways:
- Flat-rate fiscal year contracts with private attorneys in 55 counties.
- Satellite offices with salaried staff attorneys in 31 counties.
- Assignment of conflict cases to private attorneys who have agreed to accept such cases at established agency hourly rates, subject to statutory maximums set by the Indigent Defense Act.
- Assignment of cases to a roving attorney.
The Division satellite offices are located in areas where contract expenses have been typically higher, or there was in inadequate level of interest expressed by the private sector in providing the necessary legal services.
The Altus office provides legal services for appointments in Greer, Harmon, Kiowa, Jackson and Tillman Counties.
The Cleveland County office provides legal services in Cleveland County.
The Clinton office provides legal services for appointments in Beckham, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Roger Mills, Washita and Woodward Counties.
The Guymon office provides legal services for appointments in Beaver, Cimarron, Texas and Harper Counties.
The Enid office provides legal services for appointments in Alfalfa, Blaine, Garfield, Grant, and Kingfishers Counties.
The Lawton office provides legal services for appointments in Comanche and Stephens Counties.
The Okmulgee office provides legal services for appointments in Okfuskee and Okmulgee Counties.
The Sapulpa office provides legal services for appointments in Creek County.
The Woodward office provides legal services for appointments in Dewey, Major, Woods, and Woodward Counties.
Appellate Program consists of three Divisions that provide different types of representation to agency clients who have a right under State law to appeal their convictions and sentences and have been judicially determined to be unable to afford appellate counsel. The right to an appeal in a criminal case is guaranteed by Article 2, Section 6, of the Oklahoma Constitution, Section 1051 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and, in death penalty cases, by Section 701.13 of Title 21 and Section 1089 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The right to counsel at State expense on direct appeal was established by the United States Supreme Court in Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353 (1963). The right to counsel at State expense in capital post-conviction proceedings is found in Section 1089 of Title 22. The purpose of the Appellate Program is to fulfill the States obligations that accompany the right to appeal, including requirements imposed by the Federal Constitution.
General Appeals Division is appointed by the district courts of Oklahoma to represent clients on direct appeal from the trial court to the Court of Criminal Appeals in all felony cases, and in misdemeanor or traffic cases where the defendant is sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment. The General Appeals Division is appointed by the district courts in 75 counties, and in Oklahoma County and Tulsa County when the public defenders have a conflict of interest, or the defendant was represented by retained counsel at trial and is judicially determined to be indigent on appeal.
Homicide Direct Appeals Division is appointed by the district courts of Oklahoma to represent clients on direct appeal from the trial court to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals in cases where the defendant is sentenced to die. Direct appeal in a capital case also includes filing a petition for a writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court if the case is affirmed by the Court of Criminal Appeals. The Capital Direct Appeals Division is appointed by the district courts in 75 counties, and in Oklahoma County and Tulsa County when the public defenders have a conflict of interest, or the defendant was represented by retained counsel at trial but is judicially determined to be indigent on appeal.
Capital Post-Conviction Division is appointed by the district courts or required by statute to represent all death-sentenced defendants in post-conviction proceedings. By statute, the Capital Post-Conviction Division must represent all death-sentenced defendants, including those who were represented by the Oklahoma County or Tulsa County public defenders on direct appeal. Since November 1995, post-conviction applications in a death penalty case are filed in the Court of Criminal Appeals while the capital direct appeal case is still pending. Before the statutory changes, post-conviction applications in a death penalty case were filed in district court after the capital direct appeal case was decided by the Court of Criminal Appeals.