Indigent Defense
Honoring constitutional obligations
The Constitution guarantees the right to counsel. When someone can’t afford a lawyer, the state must provide one. This is indigent defense.
State leaders have determined that an effective indigent defense system provides access to qualified counsel and is actively managed and independent. Our research and data help stakeholders explore and implement practices and policies to advance these goals.
Research
Find the data, analysis, and examples you need to understand and navigate the system. Our research organizes complex information and highlights key insights. Learn about different approaches that have been implemented and evaluated across North Carolina. Many of our resources provide practical guidance that stakeholders can adapt to their own communities.
Explore the indigent defense toolbox
Find what you need—or discover new pathways—by drawing from our extensive collection of reports, projects, research, data dashboards, and much more.
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