47-1-126. (Temporary) Holistic defense pilot project. (1) The office shall establish a holistic defense pilot project within existing resources as provided in this section.

(2) (a) The pilot project must be established in up to four public defender offices.

(b) The first two holistic defense pilot project locations established pursuant to this section must be in regions where a social worker or resource advocate has already been hired pursuant to the regular workload within the region.

(3) The pilot project must be based on accepted best practices for holistic defense and the following four pillars of holistic defense:

(a) seamless access to legal and nonlegal services that meet client legal and social support needs;

(b) dynamic interdisciplinary communication;

(c) advocates with interdisciplinary skill sets; and

(d) a robust understanding of and connection to the community served.

(4) (a) The pilot project must involve the establishment in the participating offices of an interdisciplinary team that provides a comprehensive client-centered approach to address a client's legal needs as well as any underlying social concerns that may have contributed to the client's involvement in the criminal justice system.

(b) As needed and appropriate, the interdisciplinary team may include:

(i) a public defender;

(ii) a social worker;

(iii) an investigator;

(iv) a paralegal; and

(v) support staff.

(5) To provide for sound analysis and evaluation of pilot project outcomes, the office shall:

(a) establish a set of performance criteria that will be evaluated and a plan for how the criteria will be evaluated;

(b) ensure that there is a baseline level of data on each of the criteria to be evaluated; and

(c) ensure that a community assessment is done to form the basis of the holistic defense approach in each of the communities participating in the pilot project.

(6) The office shall seek any grant funding and any technical assistance that may be available for holistic defense programs.

(7) The office shall provide a report on the pilot project each interim to the law and justice interim committee established in 5-5-226. The report must cover the project's status, evaluation plan, and any measurable outcomes. (Terminates June 30, 2019--sec. 4, Ch. 35, L. 2017.)