Collaborative Defense is a framework for client-led representation that confronts the underlying causes and prevents many of the most dire consequences of criminal legal involvement.
Have Vision: An office has a clear vision for holistic, collaborative representation that is communicated internally and externally.
Ask the Right Questions: Offices routinely screen for enmeshed penalties and social service needs, conveying that information to appropriate staff.
Empower the Client: Clients are treated professional and with respect and their representation works in service of their expressed goals and priorities.
Connect with Social Services: Clients are systematically assisted in accessing community-based social services, such as housing resources, employment services, public benefits, substance use treatment, and mental health treatment.
Access Legal Expertise: Clients have access to civil, family, and immigration legal expertise to address concerns caused by criminal legal system involvement
Change the Narrative: The office systematically creates and documents persuasive mitigation, drawing on both the client’s personal history and the office’s Collaborative Defense work.
How is Collaborative Defense different?
It is adaptable, flexible and individually applicable. Collaborative Defense is unique in that it meets defender offices where they are, acknowledging that offices can take many paths to more holistic representation and that jurisdictions face different challenges and constraints. There is no one size fits all approach to representation.
How did Collaborative Defense originate?
Through working closely with public defenders throughout the country, we recognized the commonalities offices encountered. There is the constant struggle of being uniquely positioned to understand our clients needs, while being unequipped to provide additional services. The creation of the Collaborative Defense framework seeks to give every office a roadmap to provide universal services that prioritize client experience, are locally relevant and create better outcomes.
