About Us

The Juvenile Defender Unit (JDU) has a proactive and interdisciplinary team approach to juvenile delinquency advocacy and ensures that every client receives quality and effective legal representation every step of the way.

The JDU accepts all juveniles, ages 10 to 18, facing misdemeanor and felony charges in Juvenile Delinquency Court for legal representation, regardless of parental income.

Juvenile Defense & Our Young Clients Are Important to Us

The Office of the Public Defender recognizes that the defense of adolescents and teenagers is a complex area of the law requiring specialized expertise. To best meet the needs of our young clients and to invest in our community’s future, the JDU has made a commitment to providing quality legal services with a proactive, interdisciplinary team approach. 

We are confident that our method of defense representation, in combination with our commitment to ongoing legal training, the open communication of system partners, and the exploration and utilization of community resources, that our office serves as a juvenile defense model for Pennsylvania.