About Us

The Santa Cruz County Alternate Defender’s Office (SCADO) is an independent nonprofit organization that provides conflict-free criminal defense representation under contract with the County of Santa Cruz. We represent adults and youth who qualify for a public defender but cannot be represented by the primary Public Defender’s Office due to a legal conflict of interest.

Our Mission

The Santa Cruz County Alternate Defender’s Office exists to ensure that every person in Santa Cruz County who faces criminal charges and cannot afford an attorney receives independent, vigorous, and conflict-free defense — regardless of the complexity of their case, the severity of the charge, or the circumstances that brought them into the justice system.

We are an independent nonprofit, structurally separate from the primary Public Defender’s Office, because the constitutional right to effective counsel demands an advocate whose sole loyalty is to the client — not to a shared employer, a shared budget, or a shared administration.

Built on more than 40 years of continuous conflict defense experience in this community, we pair aggressive courtroom advocacy with holistic defense — connecting clients to healthcare, housing, immigration counsel, and community services that address the root causes of system involvement. We believe that defending the accused is public health work, that independence is a structural commitment and not merely a policy, and that every person who walks into our office deserves to be treated with dignity, listened to with care, and defended without compromise.

Our History

Our office traces its roots to 1982, when Santa Cruz County first contracted for independent conflict defense representation. For over 40 years, our team has continuously defended the accused in Santa Cruz County — building deep institutional knowledge of local courts, judges, prosecutors, and community resources that can only be earned through decades of daily practice in this community.

In 2026, our office is in the process of building a robust 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This is not a break from our past — it is an evolution. The same experienced attorneys, investigators, and staff who have served Santa Cruz County for years continue to do so. The same office, the same institutional knowledge, the same commitment. What is changing is the corporate structure: a nonprofit model that adds community accountability, grant eligibility, holistic defense partnerships, and the strongest form of structural independence available under California law.

Our Team

Our defense teams include 10 experienced criminal defense attorneys, 2 dedicated investigators, and support staff. Many of our attorneys have practiced in Santa Cruz County courts for decades — accumulating institutional knowledge of local sentencing practices, diversion programs, treatment providers, and community resources that cannot be hired or trained into existence. It is earned through years of daily work in this community’s courtrooms.

Why a Nonprofit?

A nonprofit structure gives us something a private firm and a government office cannot: the ability to combine stable county contract funding with philanthropic support, foundation grants, and community partnerships. We can now access indigent defense grants, accept tax-deductible donations, recruit pro bono partners, and build holistic defense capacity through community organizations — while providing the public with audited financials, published caseload reports, and an independent board of directors accountable to the community we serve.

Our independence from the primary Public Defender’s Office is embedded in our corporate structure. It is not maintained by an office policy or software permissions — it is a structural fact of our separate incorporation, separate finances, separate technology, and separate governance.

What We Do

We provide the full range of criminal defense services for clients assigned to our office by the Santa Cruz County Superior Court.

Defense of the Accused

We represent clients charged with misdemeanors and felonies, from DUI and theft to serious violent offenses. Every case receives thorough investigation, legal research, motion practice, and, when appropriate, jury trial. We do not pressure clients to plead guilty. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial, because that preparation is what produces the best outcomes — whether at trial, in negotiations, or at sentencing.

Holistic Defense

Criminal charges rarely exist in isolation. Our clients may be dealing with housing instability, substance use disorders, mental health challenges, immigration consequences, family separation, or employment loss. Through partnerships with community organizations including Encompass Community Services, the Community Action Board, Housing Matters, and others, we connect clients with services that address these underlying issues — not just to help the case, but to help the person.

Immigration Defense

Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Padilla v. Kentucky (2010), criminal defense attorneys have a constitutional duty to advise noncitizen clients about the immigration consequences of criminal charges. A misdemeanor plea that seems routine can result in deportation, denial of naturalization, or permanent separation from family. Our attorneys analyze every case for immigration impact and work to achieve dispositions that protect our clients’ ability to remain in their community.

Youth Advocacy

We represent young people facing delinquency petitions in Santa Cruz County Juvenile Court. Youth defense requires specialized skills — understanding of adolescent brain development, trauma-informed advocacy, and knowledge of educational rights and placement options. We fight for outcomes that keep young people in school, in their community, and on track.

Mental Health & LPS Proceedings

We represent individuals facing involuntary psychiatric commitment under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act, including 14-day certifications, conservatorship petitions, and Murphy conservatorships. Losing your liberty to an involuntary hold is one of the most consequential things that can happen to a person. We ensure that every client facing these proceedings receives vigorous advocacy.

Collaborative & Specialty Courts

We participate in Santa Cruz County’s specialty court programs, including Behavioral Health Court, Veterans Court, Reentry Court, and PACT (Partnership for Accountability, Connection and Treatment). These programs offer alternatives to incarceration for clients dealing with mental illness, substance use, trauma, and reentry challenges.

Post-Conviction Relief

We assist eligible clients with resentencing under recent California reforms, motions to vacate convictions obtained in violation of legal rights, and other post-conviction remedies.

Information for Clients

How do I get assigned to SCADO?

You do not choose to be assigned to our office. When the primary Public Defender’s Office identifies a conflict of interest in your case — for example, because they already represent a co-defendant — the court assigns your case to SCADO. You will be notified at your court hearing.

What should I do after being assigned?

Your attorney or a member of our staff will contact you. If you are in custody, we will visit you at the jail. If you are out of custody, we may contact you by phone or mail. Please make sure the court has your current contact information.

How do I contact my attorney?

Call our main office at (831) 429-9966. Give the receptionist your name and case number, and they will connect you with your attorney or take a message. If your attorney is in court, they will return your call as soon as possible.

Can my family contact my attorney?

Our attorneys have a duty of confidentiality to you. We cannot discuss your case with anyone — including family members — without your permission. If you want your attorney to speak with a family member, please let your attorney know.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get a worse defense because I’m not with the main Public Defender?
No. Our 10 attorneys are experienced criminal defense lawyers with decades of practice in Santa Cruz County. We provide the same quality of representation, including investigators, community partnerships for social work and housing services, and immigration expertise.

Can I choose my own attorney?
If you qualify for a public defender, the court assigns your attorney. You cannot choose which office represents you. However, if you can afford a private attorney, you have the right to hire one at any time.

What if I have an immigration issue?
Tell your attorney immediately. Immigration consequences can be more serious than the criminal penalties. Our attorneys are trained to identify immigration issues and will work to protect your status.

Do you handle appeals?
In most cases, appeals are handled by separate appellate counsel appointed by the court. Your trial attorney can explain the process if you wish to appeal.

I have a warrant. What should I do?
Contact our office or another attorney before going to court. We can help you understand your options and, in some cases, arrange for a controlled surrender that minimizes time in custody.

Know Your Rights

If you are stopped by police

You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions about where you are going, where you have been, or what you are doing. You must provide your name if asked, and you must show your license, registration, and proof of insurance during a traffic stop. But you do not have to consent to a search of your person, your car, or your home.

If you are arrested

Say clearly: “I want a lawyer. I am not going to answer questions.” Then remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. Do not try to explain or talk your way out of it. Wait for your attorney.

If police come to your home

You do not have to let police into your home unless they have a warrant. Ask to see the warrant. A valid warrant must be signed by a judge and list the specific address to be searched. If they do not have a warrant, you can say: “I do not consent to a search.”

If you are contacted by ICE

You have rights regardless of your immigration status. You do not have to open the door. You do not have to answer questions about where you were born or your immigration status. You have the right to speak with an attorney before signing anything. Do not sign any documents without legal advice.

For families and loved ones

If someone you care about has been arrested, you can help by writing down everything you remember about the circumstances, gathering contact information for potential witnesses, and making sure the court and the attorney have current contact information for your loved one. Do not discuss the details of the case over the phone or during jail visits — these communications may be monitored.

Community

SCADO is committed to serving not just our clients but the broader Santa Cruz County community. Criminal defense is public health work — when we connect people to services, advocate for treatment over incarceration, and help people clear their records, the entire community benefits.

Community Resources

Please confirm details directly with each organization — visit their website for the most current hours and contact information.

Conflict Resolution & Neighborhood Courts

The Conflict Resolution Center of Santa Cruz County (831-475-6117, crcsantacruz.org) partners with the District Attorney’s Office on the Neighborhood Courts program, a restorative justice alternative for certain low-level offenses. If you believe you may be eligible for diversion, ask your attorney.

Request a Speaker

SCADO attorneys and staff are available to speak with community groups, schools, and organizations about topics including your rights during police encounters, how the criminal justice system works, immigration and criminal law, and juvenile justice. Contact our office to schedule.

Contact Us

Media Inquiries

Members of the press should contact our Managing Attorney through the main office number. We are committed to transparency while protecting our clients’ confidentiality and constitutional rights.

Employment & Internships

SCADO welcomes applications from attorneys, investigators, social workers, and law students who are committed to public defense. We offer clinical placements for law students and internships for undergraduate students interested in criminal justice. Contact our office for current openings.

Support Our Work

As a nonprofit organization with pending 501(c)(3) status, SCADO is building the capacity to accept charitable contributions that will support holistic defense services beyond what the county contract funds — immigration counsel, social work partnerships, client advocacy, and community education. Contact our office for information about supporting our work.