Attorneys - Inmates awaiting trial are encouraged to exercise their right to counsel. The inmate may retain a private attorney or qualify for the services of the Office of Public Defender. To apply, submit a Public Defender Request for Legal Services and an application will be taken by a Public Defender representative.
Please note: even if represented by the Public Defender in other matters, inmates must reapply for services in each case.
How to
The inmate may also communicate with their attorney by U.S. Mail. The addresses for Anne Arundel County Public Defender’s Offices are:
Circuit Court Office: 1700 Margaret Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401
Annapolis District Court: 251 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, MD 21401
Glen Burnie District Court: 7500 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061
The Library has a wide array of legal materials available for use. Inmates may submit a permitted Inmate Request Slip to the Librarian to use resources to conduct research.
There are uncensored and unlimited mailing privileges to the Governor, Attorney General, County Executive, County Attorney, and any court of law or designated attorney.
Both ORCC and JRDC have full-time librarians and maintain a comprehensive legal reference collection. Inmates may visit the library by request and on a scheduled basis.
Phone calls for legal purposes are facilitated by Case Managers on an as-needed basis. Typically, inmates are allowed to call attorneys in District Court cases when within one month of trial. In Circuit Court cases, inmates are allowed to call attorneys once a month following Status Conference. Additionally, they may make collect calls using housing unit telephones.
Attorneys may visit 24 hours per day, seven days per week. They will be asked to produce identification and are noted in the Professional Visitor’s Registry maintained by the receptionist. Use of the attorney booths is on a first-come, first serve basis. The booths have a secured pass-through drawer for documents, which may be accessed with the assistance of a Detention Officer upon request.
At JRDC, the need for contact visits between attorney and client is largely obviated by the document pass-through drawers in attorney’s booths. Therefore, they are disallowed except in extraordinary circumstances. At ORCC, a contact visit may be arranged by contacting the Assistant Correctional Facility Administrator, (ORCC) at (410) 222-6358.
The Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities and the Office of Public Defender maintain the Inmate Services Project to expedite the processing of defendants detained in District Court cases. Guilty pleas are negotiated with the State’s Attorney’s Office and where possible, cases are scheduled for disposition on an expedited basis. Additionally, Public Defender Investigators are assigned to both JRDC and ORCC to process requests for representation.