Company: Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office, 11th Judicial Circuit
Company Description: The Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office provides legal representation to indigent clients who can't afford to hire private lawyers and are facing the loss of liberty or life. With a team of 200 lawyers and a staff totaling 400 employees, the office manages approximately 70,000 cases annually. It is the 4th largest PD Office in the country and has a nationally recognized training program.
Nomination Category: Achievement Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility
 Nomination Title: Empowering Women in Recovery
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the nominated organization's CSR achievements since the beginning of 2022, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization's history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 199 words used.
The Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office (PD-11) provides legal representation to indigent clients who cannot afford to hire lawyers and are facing the loss of liberty. With a team of 200 lawyers and a staff totaling 400 employees, PD-11 manages approximately 70,000 cases annually and is the 4th largest Public Defender’s Office in the country. The clients it serves are charged with a wide range of offenses, including capital murders carrying the potential for the death penalty.
While the primary focus of PD-11 remains indigent defense, it is equally dedicated to fostering fairness and justice in Miami-Dade. The office engages in community initiatives to educate about the consequences of involvement in the criminal and juvenile justice systems. PD-11 also aids individuals seeking to seal their criminal records and restore their civil rights, facilitating their reintegration as members of society.
PD-11 has also spearheaded initiatives to expand opportunities and support underserved populations. Through innovative partnerships with Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Agape Network, Inc., PD-11 has implemented programs that give children with disabilities and women recovering from addiction opportunities to cultivate essential social, emotional, and employability skills necessary for workplace success, along with great jobs offering living wages and benefits.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2022 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
In 2023, PD-11 partnered with Agape Network, Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing treatment and supporting women recovering from drug dependency, to offer its clients second chances, fresh opportunities, and valuable life and work skills. This partnership established a state-of-the-art call center for PD-11 at the Agape campus, enabling women undergoing drug rehabilitation treatment and those recovering from drug dependency to reenter the workforce and acquire professional skills without leaving the treatment center or interrupting their recovery. Agape actively encourages and supports its clients in applying for positions in the call center. Upon employment by PD-11, Agape clients receive training from PD-11 staff to handle calls from clients, lawyers, and the public. PD-11 managers collaborate with Agape staff, therapists, and counselors to ensure that the women can fulfill their work responsibilities and succeed in their new jobs while also attending treatment appointments, meetings, and sessions. As PD-11 employees, Agape clients are provided with a living wage, health insurance, and other employment benefits. They also gain essential skills, rebuild self-confidence, and reintegrate into society. The call center offers women in recovery an opportunity to enhance their professional abilities and to emerge as resilient, financially independent individuals in a supportive and nurturing environment. PD-11 has long been recognized for its unwavering dedication to promoting fairness, compassion, and rehabilitation within the criminal justice system. By extending employment opportunities to women recovering from drug dependency, PD-11 is taking steps to break the cycle of addiction and foster a culture of second chances.
- f you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answerto this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 166 words used.
The groundbreaking partnership between the Miami Public Defender's Office and the Agape Network marks a first of its kind in Florida. By establishing a satellite office at the Agape treatment center campus, PD-11 is offering job opportunities to women in treatment and recovery that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Women do not have to choose between their treatment and recovery, and their careers. PD-11 is providing stable, well-compensated jobs with excellent benefits to women whom other employers often overlook due to their ongoing treatment or recovery from drug dependency. Through close collaboration, PD-11 and Agape are ensuring the success of women in both their treatment and recovery journey as well as their career advancement. This alliance stands as an example of public and private organizations uniting to effect positive change and fill crucial roles. By leveraging their respective strengths and resources, both entities are making a significant impact on the lives of women in recovery, setting a precedent for collaborative efforts to combat drug dependency.
- Optional: Reference here any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and explain how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 4 words used.
https://www.local10.com/community/2023/07/27/miami-dade-public-defender-nonprofit-partner-to-open-call-center/
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