Capital Area Private Defender Service

The Capital Area Private Defender Service (“CAPDS”) is a joint venture non-profit corporation.  The creation of the CAPDS is a collaboration of the Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association, the Austin Bar Association, and the Travis County Criminal Judiciary.   The Capital Area Private Defender Service is dedicated to assisting indigent clients of Travis County facing criminal charges.  Our organization provides consulting and management services to deliver the highest possible quality defense for those facing criminal charges in Travis County.

​The mission of CAPDS is to enhance the quality of representation provided indigent adult defendants in Travis County.  We achieve this by establishing meaningful standards for quality representation, ensuring appointed counsel exceeds these standards, overseeing the work of appointed counsel and by providing educational and mentoring services to support those appointed to represent indigent clients.