Public Defender’s office starts outreach initiative
PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY
Rex Dimmig, newly elected Public Defender for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, wants his office to be a conduit between clients and needed social services such as counseling or substance abuse treatment. Clients are often motivated, but have no idea what's available or how to start, Dimmig says. The new initiative, called WE CARE, is a win-win for the clients, the P.D.s office and for society, he believes.
Rex Dimmig, newly elected public defender for the Tenth Judicial Circuit, is hoping that his division’s new program, We CARE, will slow the revolving door of clients in and out of the system, if not stopping it altogether. The CARE part of We CARE stands for “comprehensive assisted redirection effort.”
Dimmig first mentioned the new program at his swearing-in ceremony Jan. 15, and with help from staff, the program is beginning to take shape. Assistant public defender Howardine Garrett is spearheading the program, and Brittani Munchel, a licensed therapist who works with the public defender through the Behavioral Court program, will be applying her skills in We CARE as well.
