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Welcome to the September Edition of The Torch, NAPD's monthly member newsletter! In this issue you'll hear from multiple sources on the recent NAPD We The Defenders Conference in Detroit last month, have the opportunity to share your personal insights and experiences in a survey from NAPD's Workloads Committee, see the latest from the NAPD blog, hear about some helpful online tools, and see the biggest headlines from this past month in public defense.
Looking forward, our NAPD training team members will be in Seattle WA this weekend leading the Team Mitigation Institute, and next month we'll be headed to Montgomery AL for the much anticipated Racial Justice Conference. Wishing our TMI attendees a fruitful collaboration, and to our RJC attendees we look forward to seeing you next month!
Unable to travel to an in-person NAPD training event? You can also catch us at the Virtual Women's Conference coming up in December!
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Tell Us About Your Workloads!
NAPD is asking public defender leaders to take a few minutes to complete this survey about budgets, staffing, caseloads and the National Public Defender Workload Study. The Workloads Committee will discuss the survey results and plans for future projects at its next meeting.
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Virtual Open Space On Public Defense Independence
It's not too late to reserve your free spot at the NAPD Virtual Open Space Event on Public Defense Independence coming up on 9/19!
To serve their clients, public defenders must be free from political and judicial control. This virtual event is a space for defenders around the country to workshop local issues and shape national advocacy as it relates to the topic of independence. To learn more about the Open Space event format or to register for your spot, check out the link below.
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NAPD and ATJ: Director Forum and Quarterly Convening on Public Defense with Claire Buetow, Policy Director
NAPD continues to work closely with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) to coordinate federal support for public defense.
On August 5, at NAPD’s monthly Public Defender Director Forum, guest speakers from ATJ presented their Public Defense Resource Hub. The hub collects funding opportunities, court filings, research reports, and Department news related to public defense. The group discussed what additional federal guidance would be helpful for directors.
On August 14, ATJ hosted its quarterly convening with national public defense organizations (including NAPD) and senior Department officials. The meeting focused on advocates’ and officials’ efforts to support youth defense, and included presentations on the Gault Center’s National Youth Defense System Standards, published this year.
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NAPD On The Move with KP Friess, Engagement Director
We were lucky enough to have a huge portion of NAPD's virtual team at the recent We The Defenders Conference in Detroit! See above, a photo of Talen Francis, Jeni Benavides, and KP Friess working the registration table at the conference, followed by a photo of a large portion of the NAPD team enjoying an evening in beautiful Detroit!
Pictured below, NAPD Executive Director Lori James-Townes is joined by Richard Bierscbach, Dean and John W. Reed Professor of Law at WSU Law School, as well as Athena Kheibari and Daniel Ellman, who developed and coordinate Wayne State's innovative Holistic Defense Program in partnership between the WSU Law School and WSU School of Social Work.
We are so grateful to Wayne State for hosting us for the week and providing a great context for our conference themes! And thank you to ALL who attended and took part in making WTD Detroit another successful convening. See more conference photos and a short video clip in our recap on social media!
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We the Defenders Detroit: A Catalyst for Change in Public Defense with Renee Brodsky
The recent NAPD We the Defenders Conference in Detroit was more than just a gathering; it was a revitalizing force for the public defense community.
Bringing together 265 dedicated professionals, including investigators, mitigation specialists, social workers, paralegals, and other essential staff, this event ignited a passion for justice and fostered a spirit of collaboration unlike any other.
Wayne State University Law School provided the perfect backdrop for this inspiring conference. Their commitment to holistic defense, their support, and warm hospitality created an environment where knowledge sharing, networking, and professional growth flourished.
But don't just take our word for it! Hear directly from attendees Tim McArthur and Corey Smith on their experience at WTD Detroit 2024 by reading their reflections on the NAPD Blog. Links below!
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Alisa Smith, JD, Ph.D, Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida, has published a new article in The Criminal Law Practitioner journal, titled “Moving Beyond Yoga: An Exploratory, Qualitative Study of Public Defenders’ Solutions for Improving Work-Life and Effective Assistance of Counsel.” The study—which explores causes of public defenders’ stress and structural solutions to it—is based on a survey of NAPD members. Professor Smith writes about the findings in an NAPD blog. | |
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Wednesday Websites with Jonathan Lyon, Investigator Resource Coordinator
Every Wednesday, we send out a potentially useful online tool to our Investigators listserv. Below are some of our recent Wednesday Websites of the Week:
https://searchwhisperer.ai/ - This website will help you create better google searches using AI to assist you in doing so. It may ask you for your preferred language and to create a new search click on "New Thread", type in what you want to search for, click "Continue" and watch the magic happen. Give it a try and see if is make you even better online sleuths!
https://cybdetective.com/osintmap/ - This is a collection of OSINT tools from all around the world, based on the state or country names in alpha order. Everything from notary databases here in the US, to public transport and property searches internationally. It's jam packed with help, enjoy!
https://openmeasures.io/open-source/ - Sometimes we need to do research on websites that are in the fringe(mostly), so I found a tool that will search roughly 20+ websites that can allow you to do just that. It covers everything from 4chan, MeWe, Parler and VK to name a few. You can create timelines as well as a general search, it only searches one site at a time, but they are all in one place to save time. It allows not quite 40 searches a day for free. Be warned the language and results may not be safe for your regular machine.
Having trouble accessing these links? If so, try copying the link as text and copy/pasting into your address bar instead!
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“We must never forget that behind every statistic or case number, there is a human life and a story worth fighting for.” -The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row by Anthony Ray Hinton
Elevate your advocacy with insights from Anthony Hinton at the NAPD Racial Justice Conference, October 28th - 31st in Montgomery AL! NAPD is proud to host this immersive and transformative conference, designed to enhance your understanding of racial justice and your ability to fight for it in your work as a public defense professional. Engage with national experts, deepen your understanding of systemic issues, and empower your advocacy for clients of color.
Ready to make an impact? Click to register below!
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We Are The Ones We’ve Been Waiting For:
NAPD Women’s Virtual Conference
Registration is Open!
The NAPD Women’s Conference is returning this December 5-7, 2024 and it's going to be bigger and better than ever! Join us for our annual gathering of inspiring women in public defense.
The NAPD Women’s Virtual Conference is a transformative gathering for women in public defense. Whether you're an attorney, paralegal, mitigation specialist, social worker, or core staff, this conference is designed to inspire, empower, and connect you with a community of like-minded professionals. This conference is a safe space for all individuals, regardless of gender identity, to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. We'll have powerful workshops, opportunities for networking, and inspiring speakers who will share their journeys and insights.
Why Attend?
• Inspiring Community: Connect with like-minded professionals in public defense.
• Professional Growth: Attend workshops and learn from experienced speakers.
• Well-Being: Prioritize self-care and wellness.
• Intersectionality: Explore important topics like racial justice and women's representation.
Who can attend: This conference is open to all individuals working in or supporting public defense, including attorneys, paralegals, core staff, mitigation specialists, social workers, trainers, policy advocates, and law students. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for all, with a particular focus on amplifying female, non-binary, and gender non-conforming voices.
Submit a Proposal: Have an idea for a session? Want to share your expertise? Submit your session proposal at the button below!
Register Now: Take advantage of our early bird discount and bulk ticket pricing by registering before October 15th.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a dynamic community of women in public defense!
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From the Library with Jonathan Friley, Technology & Creative Content Director
NAPD's password-protected MyGideon Resource Library is home to over 350 archived webinars and a host of other resources for public defense professionals. From The Library will highlight a webinar or resource from within MyGideon each month. See below for this month's pick, and don't forget to log in on the NAPD website to access the link!
Body Worn Cameras: Are We Really Seeing Everything?
Across the country, police departments are increasingly using body-worn cameras to better monitor what officers are doing in the field. Reliance on this technology requires knowing exactly what this technology can and cannot do. In this recording, Giselle Pomerleau (a federal PD in NJ) will provide an overview of body worn cameras—what they are, how they work, tips and tricks for efficient video evidence review, spotting signs of video tampering or manipulation, legal strategies for obtaining discovery, and how to challenge the use of this evidence in your cases.
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