Individuals who enter the legal system now have a multitude of complex issues and therefore holistic advocacy is a must. The social workers in the Public Defender’s Office are integral to the model of holistic defense by looking at the whole person to tell the client’s stories through biopsychosocial assessments and recommendations. With master’s level training in mental health, we are adept at working with challenging clients and can help identify and explain the nexus between mental health and the alleged crime.
The role of the Public Defender social worker is as an agent of the attorney, working under the client attorney privilege. Our practice is unique and unlike any other social worker roles.
Here are a list programs our social workers work with:
See below for additional information on each program.
HOPE social workers assist attorneys by providing mitigation on felony cases where men are facing state prison time. They may provide psychosocial history, short targeted memos and/or assist with linking to services. Social workers work collaboratively with regional Holistic Support Attorney.
Learn more here: AB 109 – Probation (lacounty.gov)
Mental Health – Assist attorneys in the Mental Health Court working with clients who may be incompetent to stand trial (IST). Assess clients, meet with them in the jail facilities and in the community, evaluate their current treatment plan, and advocate for best treatment.
Adult LPS – The Adult LPS Mental Health Court handles conservatorship cases. The social worker will assist the attorney in preparing initial and renewal conservatorship hearings. Additionally, the social worker will assist the attorney in the interview process by using his/her clinical skills to assess the client’s mental health status and help develop viable plans.
Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) – AOT was designed to help individuals with untreated mental illness, who have a history of being resistant to receiving treatment, obtain the treatment they need either on a voluntary or involuntary basis. The AOT social worker works collaboratively with the attorney in the AOT program. The social worker meets with the clients in the community, advocates for the best treatment options, and works as a liaison with providers.
Neurocognitive Disorder Team (NDT) – The NDT’s primary goal is to improve justice and life outcomes for individuals who suffer from Neurocognitive Disorders. These disorders are varied in type, cause, and symptoms but include Traumatic Brain Injury, Developmental Disabilities, Dementia, and many more. The NDT social worker works collaboratively with attorneys and paralegals in assessing adult clients who may present with neurodevelopmental and neurocognitive impairments. They advocate for regional center services or link clients to appropriate services. Additionally, NDT provides office wide case consultation.
The goal of the Post-Conviction Unit (PCU) is for substantial reduction in the number of individuals incarcerated in state prisons and whose cases originated out of Los Angeles County as well as to support a successful transition of resentenced and released individuals back into their communities.
1170(d) Resentencing – Permits the Court to reduce the petitioner’s term by modifying the sentence or vacate the conviction and impost judgment on a necessarily included lesser or lesser related offense, and resentence to a lower term. The PCU PSW can assess and prepare an appropriate release plan to include housing, mental health and substance use disorder needs and engaging supportive family and community for release. They will ensure linkage upon release and complete a warm handoff to the appropriate community organizations/services to assist with a successful reentry transition to the community.
Franklin –PCU PSWs may prepare a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, including detailing youthful factors and identifying developmental factors that will be considered during the youthful offender parole hearing.
1170.95 – PCU PSWs may prepare a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, including detailing youthful factors and identifying developmental factors. After resentencing, the PSW may prepare an appropriate release plan to address reentry needs.
The Jail Mental Health Liaison (JMHL) program is a collaborative program including Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), Department of Health Services (DHS)/Correctional Health Services (CHS), and our Public Defender JMHL Psychiatric Social Workers (PSWs). JMHL PSWs see clients inside the jail facilities in order to perform welfare checks; assist in convincing clients to go to court and/or determine impediments to client getting to court; assist with medication issues; collaborate with sheriff, DHS/CHS; assistance with in-jail services requests; and referrals to Jail Mental Health teams.
Assist attorneys by providing mitigation on cases. Advocate regarding special education and developmental disabilities. Conduct clinical interviews and thorough records review. Provide psychosocial history and/or short targeted memos and/or assist with linking to services. Regular court appearances. Works closely with Resource Attorneys around client needs related to special education and Regional Center support.
The Juvenile Mental Health Court (JMHC) team’s purpose is to reduce the rate of recidivism in the juvenile mentally ill population. The program is funded by federal grants, which provides increased services for mentally ill clients. JMHC screens and accepts clients from all the juvenile courts in Los Angeles County that need a higher level of supervision to successfully complete probation. JMHC provides services to clients that have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and can sometimes have a secondary diagnosis of developmental disability. There is only one JMHC in Los Angeles County. It is team approach that staffs a Psychiatrist from UCLA, Psychologist from UCLA, educational consultant, two probation officers, and a PSW from the Public Defender’s Office. It is a Post Adjudication, Pre- Disposition court.
The SYTF Unit is comprised of a lawyer and two PSWs who assist the juvenile and young adult clients who are committed to SYTF, which replaced the now shuttered California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).
The Juvenile LPS Mental Health Court handles juvenile conservatorship cases. The Juvenile LPS social worker is an agent of the attorney and works collaboratively with the attorney and is present at court. The social worker will assist the attorney in preparing initial and renewal conservatorship hearings. Additionally, the social worker will assist the attorney in the interview process by using his/her clinical skills to assess the client’s mental health