SPOTLIGHTS PUBLIC DEFENDER
Improving Representation of Immigrants The OPD has recognized the need for special attention to the county’s immigrant population. It has developed procedures for representing non-citizens in criminal court by creating the Immigration Consequences Group. The Immigration Consequences Group is comprised of skilled and dedicated staff attorneys who are equipped with the knowledge, training, and dedication required to meet constitutional mandates and ethical responsibilities. The ICG advises and educates attorneys, clients, and other stakeholders of the potential collateral immigration consequences of a conviction. This allows for a more thoughtful discussion of case resolution and mitigates potential harmful results like deportation. The ICG attorneys need additional support of dedicated support staff to help the ICG maintain databases and influx of clients to further discover and address client needs.
handles all the clients and their cases originating in one contiguous region of Allegheny County. The goal is to foster a community-based approach to representation that focuses on the needs of clients where they live. The restructure is also designed to ensure that there is no gap in attorney representation during transitional stages of the case. Trial attorneys have more time to investigate the case, establish a relationship with the client, and seek social services for those in need. Project Rehabilitate Project Rehabilitate is a project run through the Office of the Public Defender that works with individuals in rehabilitation facilities to resolve outstanding warrants and assist with other legal matters. Since August 31, 2023, Project Rehabilitate assisted a total of 591 clients with 1,993 total outstanding cases. Project Rehabilitate staff identified 1055 warrants in Allegheny County and successfully cleared 471 of them. In addition, 90 of the 318 out-of-county warrants identified were also successfully cleared. OPD completed 116 intakes internally and referred another 136 defendants for intake at other county public defender offices. Addressing a clients’ legal matters while they receive treatment prevents unnecessary arrests, protects individuals with substance use disorders from interruptions in treatment, limits medical complications related to detoxing in the jail, and avoids the increased risk of overdose upon release from jail.
Vertical Representation In a vertical representation model, a single attorney provides ongoing representation for a client from assignment all the way through a trial and sentencing. In 2023, OPD initiated a vertical-approximate representation model. After significant pre-planning, one quarter of the office began the first stage of the incremental rollout and reorganized into a regional team. The team
54
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator