FAQ

The article explains why criminal defense attorneys should consider working with individuals who have previously been through the criminal legal system, called peer navigators. These individuals can help build relationships with clients and their families and relay information to those who support the client.

Peer navigators are important because they can support and guide individuals going through the criminal justice system based on their experience. They can build trust and relate to clients more easily, which benefits the attorney-client relationship. Peer navigators do not need a law degree or bar card, but they have empathy and understand client confidentiality rules. They can also bridge communication gaps between lawyers, clients, and their families and educate them about the legal process, bringing valuable information back to the attorney.

Communication is crucial in a criminal case as it allows for sharing of vital information between lawyers and clients, essential to building a strong defense. It can also help maintain a client’s mental health and well-being during the stressful and often isolated process of being on trial, especially in capital cases where the stakes are high.

Peer navigation in criminal cases comes from established concepts: the bifurcation of guilt/innocence and punishment phases of trials in modern capital cases. This led to specialized preparation to prevent potential death sentences and address substance abuse and mental illness.

The importance of life experience in criminal cases lies in the fact that it influences what matters to the client, and a lawyer who understands this is more likely to gain their client’s trust and effectively guide them through the legal process.

The “Prison Show” is a show broadcast for over 40 years by Houston’s Pacifica station KPFT, founded by the late Ray Hill, who spent years confined in Texas prisons and went on to be called a “citizen provocateur” by the U.S. Supreme Court. The show allows incarcerated persons to hear news and regards broadcast from friends and family who call the show.

A peer navigator’s visits are not to discuss legal strategy but to provide emotional support and hope to clients. Peer navigators can help maintain open communication between attorneys and clients and address non-legal needs, such as informing clients of court date changes or passing on messages from family members.

The article “A Failure to Communicate” emphasizes the significance of effective communication between attorneys and clients in a criminal case, specifically focusing on capital cases. It narrates the account of a man who received a death sentence due to a lack of communication with his lawyers.

Some missteps often made by the defense lawyers include poor communication with the client and his family, failing to establish a relationship with a key witness, and neglecting to present mitigating evidence that could have potentially spared the client’s life.

Effective communication between clients and their lawyers can provide emotional support, maintain the client’s mental health, and strengthen their bond. Ultimately, this can help the client by ensuring they receive the best legal representation possible.

Documentation is crucial in the legal profession, particularly when dealing with clients facing criminal charges. It is an essential aspect of good communication skills and helps attorneys establish connections with their clients, stay informed about their cases, and achieve successful outcomes.

Communication skills are crucial for attorneys as they must communicate effectively with clients to understand their needs, provide accurate information, and promptly address their concerns. Having good communication skills can help attorneys build trust and rapport with clients, which can be critical in achieving successful outcomes in legal cases.

Attorneys face various challenges in communicating with clients, such as differences in backgrounds, misunderstandings of the legal system, and clients receiving inaccurate information from unqualified sources. Furthermore, heavy caseloads and limited time may make it challenging for attorneys to give all clients the required attention.

No, peer navigators are not currently widely used in legal offices, but the ones implementing this practice have seen immediate benefits.

A peer navigator can help a client by building a relationship of trust and understanding and helping to improve communication between the client and their attorney. For example, in one case, a peer navigator was able to establish trust between a young man facing a potential life sentence without parole and his attorney by visiting him weekly for two months and helping the client’s family understand the situation. As a result, the young man was more willing to take a plea deal and work with his attorney to achieve a successful outcome.

Attorneys have a moral and ethical obligation to keep their clients informed and not to harm them by being callous. They are responsible for providing care, support, and information to their clients, particularly those incarcerated and dealing with the stress of jail or prison life. These duties are outlined in the Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

Yes, peer navigators are a cost-effective way to increase the capacity of lawyers. They can assist with tasks such as keeping clients informed and learning information from them and are generally less expensive to hire than additional lawyers to perform the same tasks. By providing support and assistance to clients, peer navigators can help improve outcomes in legal cases and ultimately save costs for the legal system.