Forging Public Defender-Community Relationships
Why are public defender-community relationships important?
More than ever before, people are finding themselves at heightened risk of unemployment, homelessness, lack of healthcare, and deportation–and are therefore also more vulnerable to being swept up in the criminal legal system. Meanwhile, both public defenders and community advocates are struggling to preserve the increasingly scarce federal and local funding that allows them to do their life-saving work. Partnerships between public defenders and community advocates can expand each group’s capacities to meet people’s growing needs, broaden available funding streams, and fortify their collective political strengths.
How are you working to improve those connections?
On August 1, 2025, at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, we are hosting a convening entitled, “Stronger Together: Building Power Between Advocates and Defenders In The Trump Era.” The goal of our event is to create a space for advocates and defenders to collaborate and strategize together with an eye to increasing resources for both defender offices and the communities most impacted by the criminal justice system.
The event is free. MCLE credit, breakfast, and lunch will be provided.