The state agency responsible for providing legal representation and other services for those accused of crime but who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. The United States Constitution and the Ohio Constitution guarantee the right to an attorney. An attorney is needed to protect an individual’s rights and to present the evidence necessary for a fair and reliable determination of guilt or innocence. The quality of justice a person receives should not be determined by how much money a person has. The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is critical to the fairness of the criminal justice system.