Delaware County Public Defender Chris Welsh Highlights Progress and Impact of His Office
Released: July 17, 2025
Delaware County Public Defender Chris Welsh Highlights Progress and Impact of His Office
Delaware County, PA — Delaware County Public Defender Chris Welsh presented to County Council and the public during the July 16 County Council Meeting, sharing a five-year progress report on his office and its critical role in the County’s criminal justice system.
Welsh, who was hired in 2020 with a mandate to reform and strengthen the Public Defender’s Office, outlined how the County’s investment has led to measurable results, including better representation for vulnerable residents, improved outcomes in court, and a significant reduction in the County jail population.
“If you like the Constitution, then you probably like what the public defenders do,” Welsh told Council. “The Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments are really given life by the work that we do every day in the courtroom.”
Those amendments protect core rights, including protection against illegal searches, the right to counsel, a fair trial, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment—rights the Public Defender’s Office fights to uphold every day.
At the time Welsh was hired, the office had 58 employees and no dedicated social workers or investigators. Today, the office has grown to 67 staff, including 50 attorneys, five full-time social workers, and two full-time investigators. Diversity and gender equity have also improved, with women now making up more than half of both the attorney and management teams.
Welsh credited these changes with helping to reduce the daily population at George W. Hill Correctional Facility by nearly 40% since 2020—a reduction of about 700 people each day—while improving client outcomes and public safety.
“The state of the Public Defender’s Office is strong,” Welsh said. “And you should be proud of the work being done every day on behalf of Delaware County residents.”
Councilmembers praised Welsh’s leadership and the impact of his team’s work.
“From 2020 to today, the jail population has dropped by nearly 40%, with about 700 fewer people in custody every single day,” said Delaware County Councilmember Kevin Madden. “These numbers represent real people—mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters— on the margins of the criminal justice system, whose lives have been changed because they finally had someone advocating for them.”
Councilmember Elaine Paul Schaefer added, “We now have social workers, investigators, and a diverse, talented team fighting for our clients—and that’s because of this Council’s support. But it’s also because of Chris Welsh and Lee Awbrey ( leadership and vision for what this office could become. Hiring him was one of the best decisions we’ve made.”
Councilmember Christine Reuther noted, “We’ve worked hard to make it possible for people who truly want to be public defenders to stay in those roles, without being forced to leave for higher pay elsewhere. That investment has paid off—not just for the lawyers, but for our clients, their families, and taxpayers.”
The office now provides representation in 26 magisterial district courts, the Court of Common Pleas, and specialty courts, serving the approximately 60% of arrested individuals in Delaware County who qualify for a public defender based on income. Social service teams support over 300 clients at a time, and investigators have completed more than 1,200 investigations since 2021.
The office has also implemented innovations like a modern case management system, with plans to launch text reminders for court dates and online applications for clients later this year. Welsh also highlighted grant-funded initiatives, including emergency funds for housing and food, and partnerships that have helped over 1,800 clients access probation, housing, and treatment programs.
The Public Defender’s Office is also excited to launch a new updated website in the coming weeks, making it even easier for Delaware County residents to access services and apply for representation.
Welsh called his team “the point of the spear” in advocating for clients, adding, “When I started this job, my goal was to build one of the best public defender’s offices in Pennsylvania. We’ve achieved that.”
