The best defense...
David E. Rovella
The National Law Journal
January 31, 2000
"Working with social workers, drug treatment programs and community groups, The Bronx Defenders is the most extreme example of a handful of groups across the country that have decided to increase their mandate to the 'whole client,' a practice that has garnered the New Age moniker Holistic Advocacy. ..."
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In addition to legal representation, The Bronx Defenders prides itself in offering comprehensive social service assistance to the individuals whom we serve. Many of their relationships with clients outlive the criminal case. Clients may, for example, return to the office after the conclusion of their case for short-term family counseling or a referral to a support group. Our client advocates also perform extensive outreach to other community-based support organizations and have created relationships with these groups that regularly enrich our clients' lives. The client advocates have become expert at judging whether a program is appropriate for a particular client, and just as adept at getting the client admitted to the program, helping with a Medicaid application if necessary, and explaining the value of the program to the client's employer or family members.
Short-Term Counseling can help a client deal with the impact of being arrested, the reality of incarceration, or underlying issues such as family violence. By listening with respect and without judgment, our client advocates create a safe space where their clients can talk honestly about their lives.
Family Support is an essential part of advocacy at The Bronx Defenders. Our client advocates work with family members as well as with clients themselves, providing them with information, referrals, and short-term counseling.
Aftercare often makes all the difference to a client trying to build a new life. By keeping in touch with clients whose court cases are over, we can help people who find themselves at difficult points in their recoveries by providing them with the support they need to stay out of the criminal justice system, whether it is a visit to a client at his residential treatment program or a supportive phone call to someone who is trying to succeed at her first job.
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