QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING
How can I get my Public Defender to work for me instead of against me?
How can I get the Public Defender to return my calls/letters?
What is ineffective assistance of counsel?
THE PROBLEM
If you have a Public Defender you should be asking these questions because Defendants with Public Defenders get worse outcomes.
But there is a solution.
We work with you to make the Public Defender prioritize your case and provide private-lawyer-level representation.
HOW IT WORKS
Get in the game.
Being a criminal Defendant isn't a spectator sport – Defendants have to get in the game and get involved.
Join for instant access
When you join Public Defender Solutions you'll have immediate access to information to help you get the Public Defender's attention.
Get informed. Get involved.
When Defendants are informed they're empowered. Use our sample forms and letters for the Public Defender and the Court.
Talk to our team
Want to meet directly with a Public Defender Solutions Team Member? Video consultations are available to clients for $350 (30 minutes).
FOR FAMILY & FRIENDS
Helping someone you love?
Your loved one may be in jail and unable to reach us. You can join on their behalf and learn how to be their advocate on the outside.
The Public Defender is very cautious about discussing the case with anyone else including the Defendant's family. But the Defendant can authorize the Public Defender to share information with others that are interested in helping the Defendant.
✓
What to expect from the Public Defender
✓
How the Defendant can authorize the Public Defender to talk with you about the case
✓
Sample forms and letters for the Public Defender and the Court
Remember, it's your case – not the Public Defender's case.
01
What is a Public Defender?
In broad terms, a Public Defender is a lawyer appointed to represent criminal defendants who cannot afford a lawyer.
04
Is my Public Defender working against me?
The Public Defender may not technically be working against you, but he may not be working for you.
02
First 7 Things to Tell the Public Defender
While you cannot control the lawyer's schedule, or how they do or do not respond to you, you can control your efforts and your proactive preparation.
05
What is a “Mitigation Strategy?”
Mitigation is one of the first things you should do when being prosecuted. Don't neglect this!
03
What is Ineffective Assistance of Counsel?
A Defendant has a constitutional right to the “effective assistance of counsel.” The fact that the attorney is a Public Defender does not change that right.
06
What is a plea agreement?
Plea agreements can be very complex and you must pay attention to the details – which many Public Defenders neglect.
[Founder's Message video]
FOUNDER'S MESSAGE
Before prison, I had never heard the words “ineffective assistance of counsel.” Seventeen years working in a prison law library changed that.
I heard thousands of stories from defendants represented by public defenders and saw the same problems repeatedly: overwhelmed attorneys, poor communication, and defendants who had no idea how to fight for themselves.
I became determined to understand why.
The Constitution guarantees defendants the right to effective assistance of counsel, whether they have a private lawyer or a public defender. But having that right and knowing how to protect it are two very different things.
That's why I started Public Defender Solutions.
We help defendants understand their rights, communicate effectively with their public defender, ask the right questions, and become informed participants in their own defense.
You may not be able to afford an expensive private attorney.
But you can learn how to fight for yourself and make the public defender work for you.
— Michael Leatherwood, Founder
MISSION STATEMENT
To empower Defendants by providing them with the information, knowledge, and skills necessary to protect themselves from being victimized by failures in the Public Defender system and demand that their Public Defender work for them.
INSTANT ACCESS
$695
for 6 months of unlimited access
The questions to ask a Public Defender and how to put them on notice of your expectations
What to expect from the Public Defender
What steps to take when the Public Defender is not performing effectively
Sample forms and letters for the Public Defender and the Court
LIVE CONSULTATION
$350
30-minute video consultation
Want to meet directly with a Public Defender Solutions Team Member? We stand ready to help with solutions tailored to your specific, unique situation dealing with the Public Defender.
If you're already a client, you can schedule a live consultation now. If you're not a client, join now and be empowered to fight for yourself.
Serving all 50 states
LEARN
MEMBERS
COMPANY
Serving all 50 states
Disclaimer: American Criminal Justice Consulting Group, d.b.a. Public Defender Solutions is not a law firm, is not staffed by licensed attorneys, does not provide legal services, does not provide legal advice, and is not the equivalent of, or a substitute for, the services of a licensed attorney. American Criminal Justice Consulting Group, d.b.a. Public Defender Solutions provides information designed to assist defendants with managing the attorney-client relationship with the Public Defender.
© 2026 American Criminal Justice Consulting Group, LLC. All rights reserved.