MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of the Defenders Services program is to ensure that right to counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, the Criminal Justice Act and other congressional mandates is enforced on behalf of those who cannot afford to retain counsel and other necessary defense services.  By fulfilling its mission, the defender Services program helps to maintain public confidence in the nation's commitment to equal justice under law and to ensure the successful operation of the constitutionally-based adversary system of justice by which both federal criminal laws and federally guaranteed rights are enforced.  It is the goal of the Arkansas Federal Public Defender Organization to render quality legal representation so that no client feels disadvantaged or otherwise compromised due to the inability to retain private counsel.  It is also the goal of the Federal Public Defender office to adopt and adhere to sound operating procedures in order to save taxpayer dollars and preserve the public trust.