Criminal Matters

The Assigned Counsel Program performs the same function in Erie County as would a "public defender" program. It provides representation to defendants charged with crimes when they cannot afford to pay for private counsel.

In Buffalo City Court, representation is provided by both the Assigned Counsel Program and by a Public Defender program, which is part of the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc.

With the exception of Buffalo City Court and a limited number of lower felonies in Superior Court, the Assigned Counsel Program provides all of the indigent defense representation in all of the 40 city, town and village courts in Erie County, as well as felony trial level representation in Supreme and County Courts in Erie County. It also handles representation at final parole revocation hearings, administrative parole appeals, criminal appeals to County Court and, in cases in which the Legal Aid Bureau cannot do so due to a conflict of interest, criminal and Family Court appeals to the Appellate Division, Fourth Department.