The Office of State Public Defender (OSPD) was created by SB 2563, becoming active on July 1, 2011. OSPD has three main divisions: Capital Defense Counsel Division, which tries and assists in death penalty trials and appeals throughout the State; the Indigent Appeals Division, which handles all felony indigent criminal appeals; and the Training Division, which is responsible for the training all of Mississippi's public defenders.

Mississippi Public Defender Task Force Final Report

The Right to Counsel in Mississippi Evaluation of Adult Felony Trial Level Indigent Defense Services

A NEW POLL shows strong, bipartisan support for increasing funding for public defenders and ensuring that people who have been accused of crimes have proper legal representation