Partners for Justice

The team at the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender is building something groundbreaking, and we're so excited to be a part of it. We know from our work with 21 other states across the nation that there is inherent power within public defense to be engines of stability, safety, and prosperity. When defenders can innovate, like in New Jersey, they can play a major role in reducing incarceration and helping people return home from jail safely.

At Partners for Justice, we pride ourselves on being the best possible wraparound, collaborative defense team, and a critical part of that work is our Client Emergency Fund. After all, we can argue for help, organize help, arrange help, but often a small cost remains as the last barrier between this individual or their family and the future they’re fighting for. Today, you can clear away that barrier. This year, Client Advocates sought roughly $73,000 from the Fund to pay for everything from vital documents, (like birth certificates, often required to gain other forms of ID) to impound fees, bus passes, medicines, and car-share rides. The Fund is vital to our efforts, and this month, we need $20,000 to replenish it. As our work has expanded nationwide—from 10 Client Advocates in two states in 2018 to roughly 100 advocates in 15 states this year—so has the need. Dollars from the Fund go directly to pay for a client’s basic but vital needs. It doesn't take much to make a difference: $20 can be life-changing for folks in need. But we can only reach our goal if everyone chips in a little and shares with friends and family. So please consider giving if you can, forwarding this message to your networks, sharing on social media, or doing anything else to spread the word. The link to donate is here: https://lnkd.in/ehmiPjcH

It's your weekly video. Did you know that we don't need the federal government, or even the president, to make massive, important progress on fixing our criminal legal system? It's the races in your backyard--judges, prosecutors, and state lawmakers who matter a LOT MORE.

It's Emily's weekly video! You've probably heard claims that people are coming into the country illegally and ~*sneaky voting*~. Turns out it's likelier a person will get struck *struck by lighting* than do that. Even the folks behind #Project2025 know that. ??https://lnkd.in/e4a_-EjA ??https://lnkd.in/eEuhgMwc ??https://lnkd.in/eVndNcsH ??https://lnkd.in/ensFe6TS #lawyersoflinkedin #voting #vote

We loved participating in this podcast. Thanks so much for including us Rolli!

We're incredibly grateful for the high praise and belief in collaborative defense from Stanford Law School's John Donohue and Eric Baldwin in this AMAZING op-ed piece published by Project Syndicate. You may not realize this, but odds are you know someone represented by a public defender—because 80% of accused people cannot afford counsel, about a third of Americans have had a loved one counselled by a public defender. Expanding what public defenders can do—and helping more people get access to things like housing, medicine, and emergency aid—is what drives us and this work. We are so excited about our partnership with Stanford Impact Labs to validate the outcomes of Collaborative Defense through external evaluations of our work and cannot wait to see what the future holds for the collaborative defense movement! #publicdefender #criminaljustice #legalnews

Are you ready to create meaningful impact, serve clients, and gain hands-on experience in the criminal legal system? Partners for Justice is recruiting Client Advocates for its Professional Fellowship Program in multiple locations nationwide, and our Fall cycle applications are open! We expect to hire 15-18 positions to start in January 2025 in New Jersey, California, Colorado, Montana, and New Orleans. The application lists specific locations, and the timeline is on our website. Please share with your networks! https://lnkd.in/gYexXmR8 #hiring #socialjustice #nonprofit

How it started vs. how it's going. About this time—roughly six years ago—ten talented early-career professionals, PFJ's first-ever cohort of Client Advocates, walked into public defender offices in Wilmington, Delaware, and Alameda County, California, to begin their first day. Fast forward a metamorphic six years, and here we are—over 100 Client Advocates strong, placed with over 20 public defenders across 15 states, and over 100 alumni pursuing incredible careers in the legal profession and beyond. Collaborative Defense is a movement, and it grows by the day.

Last week, we welcomed over 150 Client Advocates, supervisors, partners, and national staff members to Houston for our annual Collaborative Defense Conference. Our conference was a chance to collaborate, celebrate, and learn from each other. PFJ placed its first cohort of Advocates in Wilmington, Delaware, and Oakland, California, just over six years ago. Now, we have over 100 Advocates embedded in over 20 offices across 15 states nationwide. Collaborative defense is a movement, and it grows stronger by the day.

On Wednesday, we celebrated the second-year Client Advocates during PFJ's Stepping Up Ceremony. During the event, PFJ program managers spoke about the direct impact Advocates made on the lives of their clients and the incredible partnership they bring to partner offices. Collaborative Defense is built upon the efforts of many, and PFJ Client Advocates are critical to the mission of transforming public defense. We are all so proud of what these Advocates have achieved and what we know they will accomplish in the future.