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To assist defense attorneys and provide clients with more services and programs, the San Mateo County Private Defense Program hired a supervising social worker Harpreet Samra to implement and provide more assistance to social workers.
“I think it’s really great to be here, and I’m happy to start. It will be a step by step process. I want to make sure it’s done the right way so we impact clients’ lives and make a difference rather than just saying there’s a case worker on the case, ”Samra said. .
She will create and oversee a group of social workers and work with San Mateo County service providers to help private advocate clients obtain services. Samra will also provide training for lawyers on working with social workers, optimizing services for clients and how to identify mental illness and addiction. Social workers will also help fill gaps in the system, train lawyers and join community organizations. Samra recently worked for the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office. She has eight years of experience as a social worker in the Public Defender’s offices working with underage and adult clients.
She is the first to hold the position in the San Mateo County Private Defense Program, or PDP, which provides defense representation to anyone facing charges from the San Mateo County Prosecutor’s Office. A 2020 civilian grand jury report recommended the county and the PDP improve customer services, which the PDP program said it is committed to ensuring. San Mateo County contracts with the San Mateo County Bar Association to provide lawyers to defendants under the PDP program.
Chief Advocate Lisa Maguire believes a social worker program will help clients succeed after their cases are completed.
“We want to see them put in place to be successful. We think the best way to do that is to help them while we can coordinate treatments and conclude as much as we can help them while they are working on their criminal case, ”said Maguire.
Maguire has seen an increase in immigration and housing needs, but since she began working in defense in 2001, she has seen a significant increase in the number of people in the County of Criminal justice system. San Mateo who have mental health needs.
“It’s a real problem we have in the criminal justice system. More and more, we are asked to deal simultaneously with not only a criminal case, but with someone who has significant mental health needs, ”said Maguire.
Samra will act as the liaison between lawyers and county service providers and help lawyers assess the services clients require. Services may include referrals to housing agencies or immigration services or to legal counsel seeking mental health diversion for clients. Maguire said there has been a disconnect in services as lawyers don’t always have the expertise and training to set up and deliver services to clients.
“Samra will also play a key role in facilitating communications. She will therefore plan training for lawyers, let them know how she can help them assess their cases for clients’ needs and how best to offer referrals and advice and help that person. get those services and support, ”said Maguire.
Samra noted that the program would help clients obtain services and provide lawyers with resources for their clients. She gave the recent example of a lawyer with a client in his twenties who tried to make a medical appointment to resume medication for bipolar disorder but was unable to get an appointment. you before three months. The client has not seen a doctor for over a year and must be seen before prescribing the drug again.
“I want to make sure we’re doing it in a way that’s going to help clients and be able to help lawyers really get somewhere with their cases where they haven’t had a chance to do it,” Samra said.
Lawyers would contact Samra to have a social worker handle their case at any point in the process. Her goal in the first year is to bring in about five to ten social workers, and more could be added later.
“We can have a significant impact on how a case can go through the court system because of the different types of things we can help lawyers with,” Samra said.
(650) 344-5200 ext 102
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