Data In Indigent Defense: Social Work Innovations In Holistic Indigent Defense

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

The integration of social workers on legal teams has the benefit of bringing a holistic lens to indigent defense, particularly in non-capital mitigation. The presence of social workers in public defender offices is becoming more common across the US, and this trend is also occurring in the private defender and civil legal settings. This panel will include 3 presentations on innovations led by social workers in the field. One presentation will be focused on the need for research and development of evidence-based models and standards for non-capital mitigation. We will then present two unique models of holistic indigent defense: one is a private defender panel and the other is a federally designated protection and advocacy agency that serves individuals with disabilities statewide.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 44. Courts & Sentencing

Individual Presentations

• Closing the Loop: The Power of Storytelling and Non-Capital Mitigation - Lindsay Bendell, Mitigation Mentor

• How to Utilize Social Workers in Managed Assigned Counsel Indigent Defense Offices - Harpreet Samra, San Mateo County Bar Association

• Holistic Indigent Defense in Criminal and Civil Legal Settings: Creating a Pipeline of Social Work Opportunities Beyond Private Practice Therapy - Kathy Ho, Disability Rights California

Organized by a Division or external group?

The Indigent Defense Research Association