Tribal defenders semifinalists in Harvard competition
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News from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
FLATHEAD RESERVATION – The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, recently recognized the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Defenders Office as part of the 100 programs named as semifinalists in this year’s Innovations in American Government Awards competition. The Tribal Defenders will compete to be named a finalist in the competition and have the chance to be awarded the $100,000 grand prize in Cambridge this spring.
The Tribal Defenders Office advanced from a pool of more than 500 applications from all 50 states, and was selected by the Innovations Award evaluators as examples of novel and effective action whose work has had significant impact, and who they believe can be replicated across the country and the world.
In 2009, with the help of a federal grant and technical assistance from the Bronx Defenders in New York, TDO implemented an innovative public defense model called “holistic defense” that views the client as a whole person and addresses all aspects of the case, including underlying issues and collateral consequences. TDO offers psychology and case management services to individuals most at risk to recidivate due to mental illness and substance use disorders. TDO implements court diversions, driver’s license restoration, cultural mentoring, civil assistance for collateral consequences to criminal charges, community service, community education and, in 2015 a reentry program.
