
Social Workers in Public Defense: The Power of Our Work
By Dr. Lori James, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW-C, Executive Director of the National Association for Public Defense Every year during Social Work Month, I pause to
Stay connected with the latest from NAPD leadership and the broader public defense community. Here you’ll find announcements, event recaps, court summaries, educational resources, and member-submitted commentary and opinion pieces.

By Dr. Lori James, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW-C, Executive Director of the National Association for Public Defense Every year during Social Work Month, I pause to
Steve Mercer, Esq and W. Anthony Gerard, MD An emergency physician is an “overlooked front line expert” for a criminal defendant. In a wide range
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Fair Defense Project, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, and Covington & Burling LLP filed a lawsuit Monday over the
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, or Emancipation Day, is a holiday that commemorates the day that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in
For over half a century, our public defense systems have struggled to provide people with adequate representation. It is no secret that these systems have
Most U.S. criminal defendants are represented by government-employed public defenders (PDs). PDs consistently face higher caseloads than recommended by professional guidelines, but systematic evidence of
Far too often, the injustices of our legal system go without media attention. This is exceptionally true when it comes to media coverage of the
More than 100 years ago, the first Public Defender Office opened in LA County thanks to the dedication and hard work of Clara Foltz. From
Taking over a Public Defender System requires one to understand the greatest weaknesses of the system. For Tashun Bowden-Lewis, one of those is a sever
International Women's Day is celebrated every year as a global day to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It serves as
Normally in criminal law, intent matters. The intent of a person is one of the most critical features in determining how we will punish someone
After spending 18 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit, Anthony Graves hopes he can start a movement of getting more people
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