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Office of the Public Defender reports legal clinics, housing referrals and employment placements
Summary
The City of Atlanta Public Defender reported case metrics for January–May, increased demand for body-worn-camera evidence review, successful housing and employment interventions for clients, and partnerships to expand legal clinics and workforce supports.
Kenneth Days, director and chief public defender for the City of Atlanta, presented the Office of the Public Defender quarterly update, highlighting caseloads, service activities and community-based interventions.
Days said the office has been providing more detailed monthly metrics, including in-custody representation counts and increased requests for video evidence tied to body-worn cameras and dash cams. He told the committee the office handled hundreds of in-custody and DUI matters from January through May and that closed-case counts for specific practice groups were included in the materials provided to members.
The office described several client successes: four clients placed into mental-health treatment with coordination across corrections and the solicitor's office; emergency shelter placements for people charged with urban camping and efforts to move some into permanent housing; and a case where investigators used officer body-cam footage to locate a towed vehicle and recover documents that prevented a client's deportation.
Days also outlined the office's holistic employment program (HEP): since January the office engaged 46 clients for employment services and achieved 14 sustained placements (about a 30% success rate). He noted new employer partnerships and forthcoming fellowships through the Immigrant Justice Corps supported by a $156,000 grant previously approved by council.
Committee members asked for additional detail on total active DUI caseload numbers; Days said the office typically handles 700–1,000 active DUI cases and agreed to provide a more precise count to the committee before the next meeting.
Days thanked partner organizations (for example, House Proud) and noted staff achievements including national presentations and placement of attorneys into advanced trial programs. He said the office will expand legal clinic capacity and employer partnerships in coming months.
