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Maryland OPD Rolls Out District Dashboards Thanks to VISTA
Friday, December 10, 2021

Emma, serving for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, played an instrumental role in creating a Data Dashboard for the statewide agency. Read on to learn how Maryland is using it to expand holistic defense. 

Maryland Office of the Public Defender IT first introduced Power BI to the agency about a year after switching to a new case management system, eDefender. The process of adopting the new system included working with developers to customize the features of eDefender to do what OPD attorneys need and training attorneys and staff on data entry and case searching.

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Holistic Defense's Importance
Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Read on to see how Aidan, serving in Santa Barbara, California, has learned how holistic defense matters to clients and public defender staff.

 

For those working in indigent defense – or criminal defense of any kind – “holistic defense” is a frequent goal and popular buzzword. But what does it mean? What does it look like for attorneys and their clients for each case to be handled “holistically,” and what is missing from conventional indigent defense?

 

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Anya's Final AmeriCorps Reflections
Friday, October 22, 2021

Read on to hear how serving at the Moran Center gave Anya confidence in her future career and deepened her understanding of how the criminal justice system impacts youth and their families.

 

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Indian Child Welfare Act
Friday, October 15, 2021

Anya, serving at the Moran Center in Evanston, IL has seen the impact of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) on their clients and dives into the current challenge to ICWA below. 

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Meet Aidan
Monday, October 4, 2021

Meet Aidan who started serving in Santa Barbara, CA in September and learn why he serves. 

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WV Highlights the Work of VISTA Members
Friday, October 1, 2021

Guest post by Shantih Kleen

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Appellate Defenders Role in Parole
Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Luis began his service at the Office of the Appellate Defender in NYC in August, focusing on bringing community resources for clients reentering society. Below, he talks about the importance of relationship building and advocacy for clients while they are incarcerated.

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Introducing Pima County
Friday, October 9, 2020

Two NLADA AmeriCorps members started the inaugural VISTA program in the Pima County Public Defense Services in August. Below, Jessica, explains the history of the county as a borderland and the importance of public defense within Arizona’s specific judicial environment. 

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Connecticut Starts Second Year of NLADA AmeriCorps
Wednesday, October 7, 2020

As the Connecticut Division of Public Defenders Services (CDPD) enters their second year of AmeriCorps NLADA VISTA programming, they are continuing the court outreach started by Tyler, the 2019 VISTA member, with COVID-19 safety protocols. Read on to hear how Nichele is assistating CDPD with outdoor events to help people find information about their case and apply for legal assistance. >

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Cook County Starts Year Two
Friday, October 2, 2020

Dametrick and the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender are both back for year two as part of the NLADA AmeriCorps program. Read on to learn why the capacity building and partnerships are key to Cook County expanding holistic defense. 

 

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