Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia Community Defender Division, Prisoner & Reentry Legal Services Program

PDS’ mission is to provide and promote quality legal representation to indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty in the District of Columbia, thereby protecting society’s interest in the fair administration of justice. The Prisoner & Reentry Legal Services Program (PRLS) is part of the Community Defender Division at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS). PRLS provides legal representation and advocacy services to protect the rights of D.C. prisoners and individuals seeking to remove obstacles, including collateral consequences, which flow from having a criminal record in the District of Columbia. If you have ever been involved in the D.C. criminal justice system in any way such as arrests, pending charges (pretrial release), convictions (misdemeanor or felony), community supervision (probation, parole, supervised release) or sentenced (community corrections, halfway house, jail, prison) you may be eligible for our legal services.