Category: Client Support and Services

Social Workers Break Barriers!

Posted on by 2010admin

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During Social Work Month 2023, watch and learn how the Defender’s team of social workers breaks barriers for our clients and their families!

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Request a Defender for Your Event!

Posted on by 2010admin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”FILL OUT OUR COMMUNITY EVENT INFO FORM” color=”primary” size=”lg” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2FUymYaW6wNjBCmDyz6||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Our attorneys and staff are in the community, doing everything from conducting “Know Your Systems” workshops to taking criminal record expungement applications. You can join us at our own events, like Shop Talks and Community Office Hours, or find our table at block parties and other community events.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_height=”yes” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_new=”id^147294|url^https://phillydefenders.org//www/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/A1439611-53E8-4066-A44A-2556950A3E5F.jpg|caption^null|alt^null|title^A1439611-53E8-4066-A44A-2556950A3E5F|description^null” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”contain” bg_img_attach=”fixed”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”300″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]If you or your organization has an upcoming event, and you would like the Defender Association to provide resources and info for your attendees, please fill out our request form so we can add it to our calendar![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”FILL OUT OUR COMMUNITY EVENT INFO FORM” color=”primary” size=”lg” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2FUymYaW6wNjBCmDyz6||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Defender Days

Posted on by 2010admin

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The Defender Association and Councilmember Cindy Bass have partnered to offer the clinic to Philadelphians interested in clearing their criminal records.

At “Defender Days,” people will be able to discuss their criminal cases for FREE with Defender Association attorneys, who will also screen clients for eligibility for criminal record expungements for arrests that took place in Philadelphia.

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Defender Day Schedule:

Defender Days take place on the first Tuesday of every month at Nicetown Court Apartments, 4340 Germantown Avenue. Here’s a schedule of upcoming events: 

  • Tuesday, March 14
  • Tuesday, April 11
  • Tuesday, May 9
  • Tuesday, June 13

Download and Share the Defender Days Flyer!

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MORE INFO:

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”32″][vc_row_inner content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1676572246878{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #c0eefd !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][ult_buttons btn_title=”EXPUNGEMENTS” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fphillydefenders.org%2Fexpungement-info%2F|title:Defender%20Expungement%20Services||” btn_align=”ubtn-center” btn_title_color=”#ffffff” btn_bg_color=”#0061b9″ btn_hover=”ubtn-fade-bg” icon_size=”32″ btn_icon_pos=”ubtn-sep-icon-at-left” btn_font_family=”font_family:Poppins|font_call:Poppins|variant:600″ btn_font_style=”font-weight:600;”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][ult_buttons btn_title=”PROBATION TERMINATION” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fphillydefenders.org%2Fprobation-termination%2F|title:Defender%20Expungement%20Services||” btn_align=”ubtn-center” btn_title_color=”#ffffff” btn_bg_color=”#0061b9″ btn_hover=”ubtn-fade-bg” icon_size=”32″ btn_icon_pos=”ubtn-sep-icon-at-left” btn_font_family=”font_family:Poppins|font_call:Poppins|variant:600″ btn_font_style=”font-weight:600;”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][ult_buttons btn_title=”STATUS OF MY CASE?” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fphillydefenders.org%2Fmycase%2F|title:Defender%20Expungement%20Services||” btn_align=”ubtn-center” btn_title_color=”#ffffff” btn_bg_color=”#0061b9″ btn_hover=”ubtn-fade-bg” icon_size=”32″ btn_icon_pos=”ubtn-sep-icon-at-left” btn_font_family=”font_family:Poppins|font_call:Poppins|variant:600″ btn_font_style=”font-weight:600;”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Junior Defender Program

Posted on by 2010admin

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About the Junior Defender Program

The Junior Defender Program coordinates with school administrators to reach out to students in neighborhoods that have been disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system. The program provides these students with a foundational understanding of the youth justice system in Philadelphia.

We work alongside middle and high school students to develop age-appropriate and culturally responsive teaching materials that will improve our young clients’ understanding of youth justice system and court-ordered obligations. 

The goal of the program is to reduce the impact of the school-to-prison pipeline, and instead build a pipeline of young people interested in pursuing careers dedicated to the legal defense of adjudicated youth.

The videos below are one of the ways we introduce students to the issues and topics discussed in our Junior Defender sessions: [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1663263795856{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #eeeeee !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1663263761326{background-color: #eeeeee !important;}”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/j9Bc5FEYjZM” title=”Junior Defender: Intro Video”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/xWVLFqOOKmo” title=”Junior Defender: Treat Kids Like Kids!”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1663264338235{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #c0eefd !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

To learn more about the Junior Defender Program, Contact Guy Lang (glang@philadefender.org)

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October 22: La Fiesta De La Oportunidad

Posted on by 2010admin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1666114838863{background-color: #fffc05 !important;}”]Pre-Registration for this event is encouraged for those interested in criminal record expungements. Click here to register.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1666114930399{background-color: #000000 !important;}”]

WHEN: Saturday, October 22, from 11 am to 5 pm

WHERE: Taller Puertorriqueño, 2600 N. 5th Street

Defender attorneys will be doing free criminal record expungements, and our community partners will provide the celebration! Come out for expungements and Latino food, music and art![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

August 13: Expungement Event

Posted on by 2010admin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/-PkYUt6qk3g” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1660235391348{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1660235845292{margin-right: 5px !important;margin-left: 5px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1660235672700{padding-right: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]

On Saturday, August 13, we’re teaming up with the Elevation Project for a
“Celebration of Second Chances!”

Join us from 2 to 6 p.m. at    Haverford Avenue to receive criminal record expungement info from Defender Attorneys. Plus, check out the food trucks, giveaways and other community resources! 

Pre-Registration is encouraged, but not required. Click here to pre-register for this event.

Click the image below to download the event flyer

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View PhillyDefenders.org in Spanish!

Posted on by 2010admin

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’re improving our website to help more people in our community!

Users who want to read important information in Spanish can now simply click the “Español” link at the top of our website to view important content in Spanish. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Watch this quick video to see it in action: 

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Chief Defender Celebrates Budget Increase with City Council Members

Posted on by 2010admin

PHILADELPHIA–Chief Defender Keisha Hudson was joined today by Councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson (Second District) and Maria Quiñones-Sanchez (Seventh District) for a press conference to celebrate the Defender Association’s $5.8 million budget increase in the new City of Philadelphia’s Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget, which started July 1. All of the funds from the budget increase will be used to raise salaries for Defender attorneys and non-attorney staff. 

“We want to take this opportunity to thank City Council, particularly Councilmembers Johnson and Quiñones-Sanchez, for making this increase a reality,” said Hudson.

Hudson credited Councilmember Johnson for helping to secure much-needed City Council support for the increase. “At a time when we weren’t sure exactly how much City Council support we had for our budget increase,” she said, “It was Councilmember Johnson who took the lead in writing a support letter to the Mayor that was signed by 12 other members of City Council.”

Councilmember Johnson said his efforts to help secure the $5.8 million increase in funding were necessary to “guarantee a defendant’s right to effective assistance of counsel in order to increase the fairness and likelihood of justice ultimately being reached in a criminal justice system.”

 “Our public defenders experienced unprecedented challenges throughout the past few years during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Johnson continued, “They have acted as first responders and continued to advocate for their defendants while putting their own lives at risk, never resting in the defense of their clients.” 

Hudson also thanked Quiñones-Sanchez for her public statements in support of increased funding for the Defender Association, saying, “Councilmember Quiñones-Sanchez was one of the leaders who publicly called for us to receive more funding at a time when advocating for defendants isn’t the most popular stance to take. But she and others understand that an unbalanced justice system is not only unfair, but ineffective at bringing meaningful public safety to our city.”

Lauren Farrell is Deputy Director for Region 9 of the United Auto Workers, the union who represents attorneys at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Farrell heralded the budget increase as a positive development as the Defender Association negotiates the first collective bargaining agreement with its attorneys. 

“Attorneys in the Philadelphia Public Defender’s office formed their union with the UAW to make positive changes in the office in order to better serve their clients,” she said, “The increase to the budget allows them to achieve a fair, equitable contract with living wages that will promote longevity within the office, and ultimately aid in the quality of representation for the indigent of our city. “

Legal Clerk Dharuba Cherry, who has been with the Defender Association since 1990, said the increase represents an acknowledgement of the important work done by attorneys and non-attorneys alike. 

“With or without a raise, I would still be a Defender for life,” Cherry said, “But knowing that our work is appreciated by our city leaders makes me even more proud and committed to the Defender Association.”

All of the participants in today’s press conference agreed that, while the budget increase is something to celebrate, more state funding is needed to ensure that public defenders across the Commonwealth have adequate resources.

“Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that provides zero state funding for indigent defense and that forces local governments to pick up the tab,” said Johnson, “Every year, our city operating budget should reflect important values and fight for those most in need.”

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Defender Expungement Services

Posted on by 2010admin

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1651607872955{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #eeeeee !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Defender provides criminal record expungement services for our adult and juvenile clients.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

Adult Record Expungement

An expungement is an order that requires state and local criminal justice agencies to erase something from a record. To be eligible for our services you must:

  1. Have an ADULT criminal record in Philadelphia (we cannot handle cases in other counties or states). If you have a juvenile record and you want to see if it can be expunged, please call 267-765-6770, or visit our Juvenile Expungement page 
  2. Have been represented by the Defender Association in your matter(s)
  3. Not have any open cases or currently be supervised on probation or parole.

If you want to get your adult criminal record expunged:

  • You can send us an email: Expungement@philadefender.org; or 
  • fill out the expungement request form on our website here

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Juvenile Record Expungement

Expungement request are the primary request from our Philadelphia community. At every community event we attend we offer one-on-one expungement clinics with our staff attorneys. In 2019 alone, we filed 405 new expungement petitions and saw 438 of our petitions granted by the courts. 

If you have questions about an expungement you can:

Learn more about juvenile record expungement here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Defender 2023 Budget Testimony

Posted on by 2010admin

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1651088060414{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]On April 26, 2022, Chief Defender Keisha Hudson testified before City Council on the Defender’s proposal for $5.8 million in additional funding to increase salaries for attorneys and non-attorney staff. 

Watch the the full testimony below (Defender testimony begins around 2:13:18)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1651088071438{margin-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/1Z0Dh8AY4r0?t=7998″ align=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

MORE:

Click here to download and read the detailed written testimony submitted to City Council

Click here to download the Defender’s budget presentation slides[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Follow us: @PhillyDefenders