The Office of the State Public Defender is legislatively mandated to focus its resources on post-conviction appellate representation in death penalty cases and on improving indigent defense in California by providing assistance and training to county public defender offices, appointed private counsel and counsel appointed to represent juveniles, and engaging in related efforts for the purpose of improving indigent defense. The Office has two regional offices located in Oakland and Sacramento. The State Public Defender is headquartered in Oakland.
Government Code sections 15400-15404, 15420-15425; Penal Code sections 1026.5 and 1240