NAPD 2026 We The Defenders

*This session is eligible for NASW CEU Credit

In this era of unprecedented political change, where the momentum of criminal justice reform and social justice has halted at the fifth anniversary of the George Floyd Era, the public defender shines as a beacon of equity and equality. This session speaks to our times and highlights the role of criminal defense mitigation and its particular micro, mezzo, and macro roles in achieving an equitable America. Adapted from Donavan’s new book, Mitigating Gideon,  it expounds on cultural humility and a culturally competent criminal defense mitigation model, presenting philosophy and practice to build, augment, and sustain a consistent practice of culturally competent mitigation relevant to the public defender mandate and its place amid the challenged vestiges of social justice and criminal justice reform.
 
Learning objectives
Attendees will:

• Attendees will learn about a philosophy of culturally competent mitigation practice.
• Attendees will learn how to use cultural humility in mitigation practice.
• Attendees will learn about the challenges of using a culturally relevant mitigation practice.
• Attendees will be given tools to encourage their own version of culturally relevant mitigation practice.

*This session is eligible for NASW CEU Credit

Interdisciplinary collaboration can be complex, especially when diverse training and degrees produce distinct skill sets. Navigating how these skills complement one another is not always straightforward. This session will explore how social workers and mitigation specialists, through discipline-specific expertise, can enhance and support the work of attorneys and investigators on defense teams. With a long history of bridging gaps across disciplines, social workers and mitigation specialists bring unique perspectives that strengthen collaboration. Attendees will gain practical strategies to showcase their specialized skills, articulate their roles, and demonstrate how these contributions build team capacity and support clients more effectively.

This session equips social workers and mitigation specialists with strategies to integrate seamlessly into defense teams while highlighting their unique expertise. Participants will learn:

• The work culture expectations of a defense office and how to align with them.
• How to communicate their role and value to attorneys and investigators.
• Ways to clarify swim lanes when responsibilities overlap (e.g., records collection, client meetings).
• How to leverage strengths beyond the job description to shine in their role.
• The dual benefits of mitigation work: client-centered outcomes and team process improvements.
• How to lead from any chair by modeling collaboration, initiative, and education.
• Practical strategies for educating new team members about mitigation skills.
• A roadmap for not just “doing the job” but elevating the job into a respected, indispensable function.

*This session is eligible for NASW CEU Credit

This presentation focuses on things a new mitigation specialist would need to know when starting their career, including the basics of Holistic Defense, the Bronx Defender study, and tips on how to be successful in your role.

Objectives:

• Acquire knowledge of the origins and fundamentals of Holistic Defense
• Advance understanding of the various roles of a Mitigation Specialist on a defense team
• Progress understanding of communication with client’s, stakeholders, and community partners