Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender is a Colorado state government agency that provides constitutionally mandated legal defense representation to indigent persons accused of crimes in state courts across Colorado, operating 21 regional trial offices and an appellate division with about 1,100 staff.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Office of the Colorado State Public Defender does
The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender (OSPD) is a state government agency organized under the judicial branch of Colorado, created through the enactment of Senate Bill 1969-125 in 1970 (building on the 1963 Colorado Defender Act). It provides constitutionally mandated legal representation under the Sixth Amendment and Gideon v. Wainwright to indigent persons accused of crimes in Colorado state courts. The agency is governed by the Public Defender Commission — five members appointed by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court — and the State Public Defender is appointed by the Commission to five-year terms. The current State Public Defender is Megan A. Ring (in office since 2018).
OSPD delivers services through a distributed network of 21 regional trial offices covering all 22 judicial districts and 64 Colorado counties, a centralized Appellate Division in Denver that represents clients before the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court, and a State Administrative Office that provides leadership, training, and budget oversight. As of FY2024 the agency operates with approximately 1,100 staff, including 577 attorneys, 167 investigators, 113 paralegals, 23 forensic social workers, and supporting administrative personnel, organized into multidisciplinary defense teams. Specialized programs include Criminal Defense Investigation, Forensic Social Work, DOC Liaison services, Restorative Justice, Peer Support, and a statewide Public Defender Training Program. The agency projects handling roughly 190,000 cases in FY2024.
The agency does not earn commercial revenue. It is funded through annual appropriations by the Colorado General Assembly via the state's "Long Bill" and has no private shareholders, parent company, or venture capital ownership. Clients do not pay for services; a $25 fee may be assessed at case end but is waivable by the court. No proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capability is described in the available data; service delivery is people- and office-based.
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
- Legal name
- Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
- Website
- https://coloradodefenders.us
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender is a Colorado state government agency that provides constitutionally mandated legal defense representation to indigent persons accused of crimes in state courts across Colorado, operating 21 regional trial offices and an appellate division with about 1,100 staff.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Defense Legal Services
- NAICS
- Legal Counsel and Prosecution (922130), Courts (922110), Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro industry
- Public Defense & Legal Aid ServicesBusiness & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)Criminal DefenseState/Provincial Courts & Judicial AdministrationBusiness & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/State/Provincial & Regional Government AdministrationForensic & Correctional Behavioral Health ServicesHealthcare & Life Sciences/Healthcare Providers & Systems/Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment
Keywords
Where Office of the Colorado State Public Defender is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices23 records
Markets served
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- State Government Funding: The Office of the State Public Defender is funded through the Colorado State Legislature in the state's annual 'Long Bill', the funding bill for all of Colorado State government. The budget is approved by both chambers of the Colorado legislature and signed into law by the Governor.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free legal representation for financially eligible clients |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender provides constitutionally mandated criminal defense representation to indigent persons accused of crimes in Colorado state courts. Services span trial defense across all 22 judicial districts and 64 counties through 21 regional offices, appellate representation before the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court, criminal defense investigation, forensic social work mitigation, Department of Corrections liaison assistance, restorative justice facilitation, in-house peer support for staff, and statewide defender training programs.
Product overview
The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender (OSPD) provides constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent persons accused of crimes who cannot afford counsel. The organization operates as a unified legal services system comprising 21 regional trial offices serving all 64 Colorado counties, an appellate division office in Denver, and a central administrative office. OSPD employs approximately 1,100 staff including attorneys, criminal defense investigators, forensic social workers, paralegals, and administrative professionals organized into multidisciplinary defense teams. The organization also provides specialized programs including a DOC Liaison program, restorative justice services, defender wellness programs, and comprehensive statewide training through its annual conference and workgroup-specific training curricula.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Defender Legal Representation Services Constitutionally mandated legal defense representation for indigent persons accused of crimes in Colorado state courts, including trial and appellate representation across all 22 judicial districts and 64 Colorado counties.
- Appellate Division Services Central appellate office in Denver representing clients on appeal to the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court.
- Criminal Defense Investigation Services Criminal defense investigators who explore case facts and work as part of the multidisciplinary defense team serving indigent clients.
- Forensic Social Work Services Forensic social workers who investigate clients' lives, provide mitigation advocacy, and support less punitive outcomes as part of the defense team.
- Public Defender Training Program Statewide defender training program including new attorney onboarding, intermediate and advanced trial skills, investigator training, forensic social work training, and an annual conference.
- DOC Liaison Program Program assisting incarcerated individuals with legal matters related to detainers, bonds, competency, parole applications, and commutation applications.
- Restorative Justice Services Restorative justice initiative offering compassionate accountability and healing through processes that bring victims and accused together.
- Peer Support Program In-house peer support team of attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and administrative staff offering support for personal or work-related stress.
Companies that use Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Public Counsel: One of the largest pro bono public interest law firms in the U.S., providing direct legal services to vulnerable populations in Los Angeles. Comparable in mission and multidisciplinary staffing approach to OSPD's holistic defense model.
- Southern Center for Human Rights: Atlanta-based nonprofit providing public defense representation and policy advocacy in the Deep South. Comparable mission and holistic representation approach, though smaller in scale than OSPD.
- Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia: Federally-funded public defender office representing indigent adults and juveniles in D.C. Superior Court. Directly comparable as a government-funded public defense organization with full-service staffing.
- The Legal Aid Society (New York): One of the largest and oldest public defense and civil legal services organizations in the U.S., providing court-appointed representation across New York City. Comparable in scale, mission, and multidisciplinary staffing model to OSPD.
- Bronx Defenders: Pioneering holistic public defense organization in New York using a multidisciplinary model integrating attorneys, social workers, and investigators. Directly comparable to OSPD's team-based approach, though smaller in geographic scope.
- California State Public Defender: California's state-level public defender office handling appeals and capital cases. Comparable as a state-government public defense entity operating under statutory authority, though narrower in trial-level scope than OSPD.
- Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem: Community-based holistic public defense program serving Harlem, New York. Implements an integrated defender model similar to OSPD's multidisciplinary teams with community-embedded services.
Broad incumbents
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA): National membership and advocacy organization for civil legal aid and public defender programs. Not a direct service provider but the primary industry association governing OSPD's professional standards and federal funding eligibility.
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL): National bar association for criminal defense lawyers, including public defenders. Provides training, policy advocacy, and standards that influence OSPD's practice. Broad incumbent shaping the public defense profession.
Regional players
- Texas Indigent Defense Commission: Texas state agency overseeing indigent defense services and providing funding/representation support. Comparable as a state-government entity managing indigent defense delivery, though with a more policy/funding role and less direct representation than OSPD.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
What does Office of the Colorado State Public Defender do?
The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender provides constitutionally mandated criminal defense representation to indigent persons accused of crimes in Colorado state courts. Services span trial defense across all 22 judicial districts and 64 counties through 21 regional offices, appellate representation before the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court, criminal defense investigation, forensic social work mitigation, Department of Corrections liaison assistance, restorative justice facilitation, in-house peer support for staff, and statewide defender training programs.
Is Office of the Colorado State Public Defender a public or private company?
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Office of the Colorado State Public Defender founded?
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender was founded in 1970. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Office of the Colorado State Public Defender based?
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Office of the Colorado State Public Defender make money?
One revenue line is on record: state Government Funding.
Who are Office of the Colorado State Public Defender's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Public Counsel, Southern Center for Human Rights, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, The Legal Aid Society (New York), Bronx Defenders, California State Public Defender and Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem. Broad incumbents are National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Texas Indigent Defense Commission is listed as a regional player.
Does Office of the Colorado State Public Defender have an API?
No public API is recorded for Office of the Colorado State Public Defender.
What industry is Office of the Colorado State Public Defender in?
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender's product category is Public Defense Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAFAC, Public Defense & Legal Aid Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAAAN, Criminal Defense. Its NAICS code is 922130 and its SIC code is 8111.