A procedure is outlined whereby the plastic near-tip stress and deformation fields for branched cracks are determined under plane strain and small scale yielding conditions. This method utilizes the known elastic stress intensity factor solutions and the universal mixed-mode plastic near-tip fields to determine the stress and deformation conditions at the tip of a kinked or forked crack. The plastic near-tip fields are characterized by an amplitude and a mixity parameter. We examine the influence of crack tip plasticity and material strain hardening characteristics on the local stress and strain states. Possible beneficial effects of crack branching and crack tip plasticity on fracture toughness and crack growth resistance are discussed in the light of these results.