Oklahoma
The state of Oklahoma funds and administers indigent defense services in adult criminal trials in most geographic areas. A few local governments are responsible for providing their own services. A state commission oversees only state-administered services.
The state of Oklahoma funds and administers most indigent defense services in its appellate courts for adult criminal cases. A few local governments are responsible for most cases arising out of their jurisdiction. A state commission oversees state-administered services only.
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75 Counties State Funded
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2 Counties Locally Funded
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75 Counties State Administered
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2 Counties Locally Administered
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75 Counties with a Commission With Statewide Authority
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2 Counties with No State Oversight
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75 Counties State Funded
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2 Counties Locally Funded
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75 Counties State Administered
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2 Counties Locally Administered
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75 Counties with a Commission With Statewide Authority
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2 Counties with No State Oversight
The state-funded Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (OIDS) administers indigent defense services in adult criminal and juvenile delinquency cases in 75 of the state’s 77 counties. OIDS delivers trial services through ten regional defender offices and two types of contracts with private attorneys (flat-fee annual contract or hourly rate case-by-case basis). Pursuant to state law, counties with a population greater than 300,000 (Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties) must establish their own county public defender offices. Local judges appoint a county public defender to head each of the two county-run offices.
The Oklahoma Indigent Defense System’s Board of Directors oversees the state system. The governor appoints the board’s five members, who are responsible for appointing OIDS’s executive director. The executive director is responsible for supervising the state system. The board’s oversight does not extend to the Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties public defender offices.
The state-funded Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (OIDS) administers indigent defense services in adult criminal and juvenile delinquency appeals originating from 75 of the state’s 77 counties. Pursuant to state law, counties with a population greater than 300,000 (Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties) must establish their own local public defender office. These county-run offices handle most of their own appeals. OIDS administers appeals originating from Oklahoma and Tulsa Counites in which trial counsel was privately retained, or the county public defender office has a conflict of interest.
The OIDS Board of Directors oversees the state system. The governor appoints the board’s five members, who are responsible for appointing the OIDS executive director. The executive director is responsible for supervising the state system. The board’s oversight does not extend to the Tulsa and Oklahoma Counties public defender offices.
Dig Deeper
Who serves on Oklahoma Indigent Defense System’s Board of Directors?
Is there any pay parity between indigent defense providers and prosecutors in the state?
What are the required qualifications of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System’s executive director?
Is an indigent defendant required to pay a fee for their appointed counsel?
In which branch of state government does the indigent defense system reside?
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Criminal justice issues that disproportionately harm poor people, such as wrongful convictions and over-incarceration, cannot be fixed if indigent defendants are given attorneys who do not have the time, resources, or qualifications, to be a constitutional check on government. Yet, investment in improving indigent defense services remains largely neglected. The Sixth Amendment Center is the only nonprofit organization in the country that exclusively examines, uncovers, and helps fix the root of the indigent defense crisis in which inequality is perpetuated because poor defendants do not get a fair fight.
The Sixth Amendment Center is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under EIN: 45-3477185.
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