Common Questions

Q1. Am I eligible for criminal defence aid?

To qualify for criminal defence aid, you must meet the eligibility requirements, including the applicable financial means and merits criteria. You can find out more about the eligibility requirements on our Qualifying for help ↗ (opens in new tab) page.

If criminal defence aid is granted, you may be required to pay a contribution towards the cost of legal assistance. The amount of contribution, if any, will depend on your financial circumstances.

Q2. What types of criminal cases can the Public Defender’s Office help with?

The Public Defender’s Office provides criminal defence aid for most criminal cases. However, we do not provide aid for the following:

a.     offences punishable by death;

b.     certain regulatory offences under the Acts listed in Part 3 of the Schedule to the Public Defenders Act 2022 ↗ (opens in new tab);

c.     offences relating to gambling and betting, organised/syndicate crime, and terrorism; and

d.     cases prosecuted by private persons.

If you are unsure whether the Public Defender’s Office can assist with your case, you may contact us here ↗ (opens in new tab).

Q3. What does the means test take into account?

The means test assesses whether you meet the financial eligibility criteria for criminal defence aid. It takes into account:

• your household’s average monthly gross income (i.e. income before deductions), considering the number of people in your household;

• the annual value of your residence; and

• your savings and investments.

You may be asked to provide information and supporting documents about your financial circumstances as part of the assessment. For more information on the means criteria, please visit our Qualifying for help ↗ (opens in new tab) page.

Q4. Do I need to undergo a means test if I receive financial assistance?

You may not need to undergo the full means test if you are currently receiving assistance under certain qualifying financial assistance schemes, such as ComCare Long-Term Assistance, ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance or the Medical Fee Exemption Card scheme.

We may still need to assess your financial circumstances if your financial assistance has expired, is due to expire, or is no longer valid. You should also inform us if there is any change to your financial assistance status while your application is being assessed or after criminal defence aid is granted.

Q5. Can foreigners apply for criminal defence aid?

No. Criminal defence aid by the Public Defender’s Office is available only to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who meet the eligibility requirements.

If you are a foreigner facing criminal charges in Singapore and cannot afford a lawyer, you may approach Pro Bono SG ↗ (opens in new tab) to find out whether legal assistance is available to you.

Q6. Where can I seek legal assistance for a criminal matter?

You may refer to LawGoWhere ↗ (opens in new tab) for information on legal assistance schemes and other legal resources that may be available to you.

If you are a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is unable to afford legal representation for your criminal matter, you may wish to approach the Public Defender's Office ("PDO") ↗ (opens in new tab) for criminal defence aid, subject to the relevant eligibility criteria.

If you are a foreigner who is unable to afford legal representation for your criminal matter, you may wish to apply under Pro Bono SG’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme ↗ (opens in new tab) (“CLAS”) for criminal defence aid, subject to the relevant eligibility criteria.

If you are a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident and are not eligible for assistance from the PDO, you may wish to approach Pro Bono SG for free legal guidance through its Community Legal Clinics ↗ (opens in new tab). The clinics provide a one-time consultation per matter to help you understand your legal position and the options available to you. They do not provide legal representation or ongoing assistance, and eligibility criteria apply. 

Alternatively, you may also engage a private lawyer of your choice. You can search for practising lawyers and law practices in Singapore, including by area of practice, on the Legal Services Regulatory Authority’s website ↗ (opens in new tab).

Q7. Where can I get legal help if the Public Defender’s Office cannot assist me?

If the Public Defender’s Office is unable to assist you, you may wish to approach Pro Bono SG ↗ (opens in new tab) at the State Courts Help Centre, who can advise you on the available options and the appropriate avenue of assistance.

Q8. What if I am facing a charge punishable by death?

Legal representation for persons facing capital charges is provided under the Legal Assistance Scheme for Capital Offences (“LASCO”).

You can find more information about LASCO here ↗ (opens in new tab).

Q9. When should I apply for criminal defence aid?

You should apply for criminal defence aid as soon as possible after you have been charged in court. Applying early gives us sufficient time to assess your application and, if aid is granted, for your lawyer to prepare for your case.

Q10. Can I apply for criminal defence aid before I am charged in court?

No. You may apply for criminal defence aid after you have been charged with a criminal offence in court. You may also apply if you intend to file or defend an appeal in a criminal matter.

Q11. How do I apply for criminal defence aid?

You can apply for criminal defence aid online through here ↗ (opens in new tab).

If you need assistance to submit an application, you may visit the HELP Centre at Basement 1 of the State Courts, or the Ministry of Law Services Centre at the URA Centre, East Wing, Level 7.

Please make an appointment through the OneMinLaw Portal ↗ (opens in new tab) before visiting the Ministry of Law Services Centre.

Q12. What information or documents do I need to provide when I apply?

When you apply for criminal defence aid, you will need to provide documents relating to your criminal case and financial circumstances.

Documents relating to your criminal case:

• Charge sheet(s)

• Latest court mention slip

• Cautioned statement(s)

• Bail bond or bailor’s confirmation, where applicable

• Any other relevant court documents

• Medical reports, where applicable

Documents relating to your financial circumstances:

• Latest bank statement(s) or bank account passbook(s)

  • For bank statements, please provide the statement(s) for the most recent calendar month, with your full name and bank account number clearly reflected.

  • For bank passbooks, please provide the first page showing the account holder’s name and account number, and the latest updated page. Transactions for the most recent month before your application date must be clearly reflected.

• Payslips for the last 12 months, if you are employed but do not receive CPF contributions

• Supporting documents showing your employment and income, if you are self-employed

• Latest Central Depository (CDP) account statement, where applicable

• Latest statements for investments, such as fixed deposits, unit trusts, Singapore Savings Bonds and other investment products

If you are applying in person at the Ministry of Law Services Centre or the State Courts HELP Centre, please bring your identity card or have your digital IC in the Singpass app ready for verification.

Q13. What happens after I submit my application?

After you submit your application, we will assess whether you meet the requirements for criminal defence aid. This may include an assessment of your financial circumstances and the merits of your application.

We will contact you if we require further information or documents. We will inform you of the outcome after the necessary assessments have been completed.

Q14. How long will it take to process my application?

The time needed to process an application depends on the circumstances of each case, including whether we have received all the information and documents needed to assess your application.

You should therefore apply as early as possible after you are charged in court.

Q15. Do I have to pay for criminal defence aid?

If criminal defence aid is granted, you may be required to pay a contribution towards the cost of legal assistance.

The amount of contribution, if any, will be assessed based on your financial circumstances. We will inform you of the amount payable after the relevant assessment.

Q16. Can I appeal if my application for criminal defence aid is unsuccessful?

If there has been a change in your circumstances, whether financial or otherwise, or you have new information that may affect the outcome of your application, you may appeal against the decision and provide the relevant information and supporting documents.

Depending on your circumstances, we may ask you to submit a new application for criminal defence aid.

Q17. I have an upcoming court date, but my application is still being processed. What should I do?

You must continue to attend court when required to do so while your application for criminal defence aid is being processed.

At your court hearing, you should inform the Court that you have submitted an application for criminal defence aid to the Public Defender’s Office.

Q18. Who will handle my case if I am granted criminal defence aid?

If you are granted criminal defence aid, your case may be handled by a Public Defender from PDO or, as part of our co-delivery arrangement with Pro Bono SG (“PBSG”), by a volunteer lawyer assigned through PBSG.

You will be informed who has been assigned to handle your case.

Q19. Can I choose my own lawyer?

No. If you are granted criminal defence aid, a lawyer will be assigned to handle your case. Depending on the assignment of your case, this may be a Public Defender from the Public Defender’s Office or a volunteer lawyer assigned through Pro Bono SG as part of our co-delivery arrangement. You cannot choose a particular Public Defender or volunteer lawyer.

If you have concerns about your assigned Public Defender, please contact PDO. If your case is handled by a volunteer lawyer assigned through PBSG, you should contact PBSG regarding any concerns about your assigned lawyer.

Q20. What information should I share with my assigned lawyer?

It is important to provide accurate and complete information about your case to your lawyer. This may include documents relating to your charges, court notices, and other relevant information. Your lawyer will advise you on what information is required to assist in the preparation of your case.

You should provide your lawyer with complete and accurate information about your case, including information that you think may be unfavourable to you. You should also provide any relevant documents, such as court documents or correspondence relating to your case.

Q21. Can my family members or friends contact the Public Defender’s Office about my case?

Information relating to your application and case is kept confidential. Your assigned lawyer also has a duty to keep information relating to your case confidential. We will generally not share information about your application or case with your family members, friends or other persons without your consent.

Q22. Can I withdraw my application for criminal defence aid after it has been approved?

If you wish to withdraw from the criminal defence aid scheme after approval, please inform the Public Defender's Office as soon as possible. You will then need to arrange for alternative legal representation. Please note that withdrawal may have implications for your case timeline.

Q23. Can the Public Defender's Office help me with matters other than criminal charges?

The Public Defender's Office specifically handles criminal defence matters and appeals related to criminal cases. For other legal matters such as civil disputes, family law, or employment issues, you may need to seek assistance from other legal aid schemes or private lawyers.

Q24. What can I expect at my first court mention?

At your first court mention, the court interpreter will read your charges to you. The judge may ask whether you wish to plead guilty, or to claim trial. Depending on the circumstances, the judge may also order you to be placed in remand and/or adjourn the case to a later date. You may request for an adjournment if you require time to apply for criminal defence aid or to decide how to proceed.

Q25. What are my options after I have been charged in court?

If you have been charged with a criminal offence, the two main options are to admit to the offence (i.e. plead guilty) or not admit to the offence (i.e. claim trial).

Q26. How can my assigned lawyer help me with my criminal case?

Your assigned lawyer can advise you on your plea, as well as make representations to and negotiate with the Prosecution on your behalf.

If you decide to plead guilty, your assigned lawyer can assist you by making submissions to the court for a fair and appropriate sentence.

If there are reasonable grounds to defend the proceedings, your assigned lawyer can represent you at trial and provide detailed advice based on the specific circumstances of your case.

Q27. Am I allowed to leave Singapore when I have a pending criminal case?

Generally, you are required to remain in Singapore if you have a pending criminal case. However, if you need to leave Singapore, you will need to apply to the court for permission to leave jurisdiction. Your assigned lawyer can assist you with the application.

Your bailor must consent to your leaving Singapore, and you must not travel with your bailor. If permission to leave jurisdiction is granted, the court may also increase the amount of bail required.

For advice based on the specific circumstances of your case, please consult your assigned lawyer.

Q28. I am in remand. Can I apply for bail?

If you have been offered bail but have difficulty finding a bailor who can post bail, your assigned lawyer may be able, depending on the circumstances, to apply to the court for a review of the bail amount.

If you have not been offered bail, this may be due to reasons including, but not limited to:

a.      Your offence is punishable with death or life imprisonment;

b.     You are assessed to be a high flight risk; or

c.      You are assessed to have a risk of reoffending or tampering with evidence.

The court would typically be slow to grant bail in such circumstances, but your assigned lawyer will be able to advise you on the specific circumstances of your case.

Q29. What should I do if I cannot attend my court hearing?

If you cannot attend your scheduled court hearing, you must inform your assigned lawyer immediately. Your lawyer can advise you on the appropriate steps to take, which may include applying to court for an adjournment. Failure to attend court without valid reasons may result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.