Our staff is comprised of over 25 attorneys, investigators, legal assistants, front office staff and administration.
We are focused on helping you achieve your legal goals.
Who are the Deschutes Defenders?
Deschutes Defenders, A Public Defense Nonprofit, provides high quality legal representation for people living in poverty. The office, formerly Crabtree & Rahmsdorff, provides representation for court-appointed clients in criminal, juvenile and mental health proceedings and has been in operation since 1981.
Operating as Deschutes Defenders since 2020, our office contracts with the state of Oregon for indigent defense services. Our attorneys also advocate for clients involved in alternative court programs including family drug court and mental health court. We are governed by a board of directors.
Rooted in Community
We seek to expand options for clients as we recognize an array of needs. Research shows the most common scenario is that an indigent defense client may face an array of barriers beyond the client’s criminal or juvenile case. Our staff attorneys strive to understand the client’s situation and guide the client to additional resources.