How Family and Community Involvement Impacts Every Player in the Courtroom Here is what we know after working numerous cases, from misdemeanors to serious felonies – family and community involvement can dramatically change the outcome of the case of a loved one. In the following chapters, you will read stories exampling that truth, and see what these community members did to support themselves or the person they cared about who were facing charges. By just the very basic level of involvement, family and community participation in the defense of an individual changes the odds, and the very environment of the criminal court proceedings – impacting every person involved, from the person charged to the presiding judge. For the individual facing charges: The support makes it so they don’t feel isolated, thus they are able to make decisions around their case, such as to take a plea or not, without the coercive impact of feeling alone. Particularly if the defendant is detained, knowing that there is a team of people who are supporting them can provide the strength they need to continue to stay vigilant in a pressure-filled atmosphere. As Jeysson, who was incarcerated, and ultimately facing deportation if found guilty, said, “I knew I could continue to fight because I knew I had people on the outside that were fighting for me.” Though facing some initial recommendations from his defense attorney to take a plea, Jeysson took his case to trial and won. For the Family//Community Group: Family and community groups can bear witness to their own power to change the fate of a loved one. They can be the main vehicles that show the rest of the involved parties of the court system that the person facing charges is more than a case file. They can also be important sources of information for the defense strategy, and can assist in holding defense counsel accountable to their client if necessary. Mitri Hanania, an attorney contracted with the San Mateo County Private Defender’s Office, says it’s vital to have both family and community support. He says, “The saddest thing is when you walk into a courtroom with a client and there is no family support, and it sends a message. That’s why it makes such a huge impact to have community involvement in a case, because the courts are sensitive to the fact that the community is watching, and it adds to the credibility of the client.”
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For the defense attorney: They get the support of those who care about their client, who can let the attorney know about the person, how they are important to others, and are more than simply the charges against them. Personalizing the case can motivate the attorney, and in practical terms, family and communities can be a well of knowledge and information the attorney can draw from when developing a defense. If need be, the community can also be an important