Using Data to Promote Racial Justice In and Out of the Courtroom

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Data is often weaponized against our clients to promote dangerous stereotypes and fear-mongering, resulting in harmful outcomes for the communities we serve. In this presentation, representatives from New York County Defender Services' Racial Justice Working Group will present ways in which PD offices can use internal and external data to reshape narratives around individuals accused of crimes and strengthen advocacy in litigation, mitigation, legislation, and public education in a race-conscious way.

Upon completion, participants will be able to list five ways in which research can be used to promote racial justice in the criminal legal system/
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the attributes that make a strong research question.
Upon completion, participants will be able to identify possible sources of data for research.
Upon completion, participants will be able to list several resources they can use to collaborate with other organizations on data research projects related to the criminal legal system.

Estée Rubien-Thomas, PhD

Research Lead

New York County Defender Services

Estée Rubien-Thomas (she/her) is the Research Lead at New York County Defender Services. She has a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from Yale University, where her work focused on the social neuroscience of interracial interactions, and how developmental neuroscience can inform the treatment of justice-involved youth. Estée joined the Data Research Unit at NYCDS in 2021, where her expertise has been instrumental in developing and implementing evidence-based practice standards throughout the organization. In addition, Estée conducts research to support various policy and advocacy efforts. Estée is a member of NYCDS’ Racial Justice Litigation Working Group, where she uses both internal case data and public datasets to identify and address racial inequities in the criminal legal system.

Celia Joyce

Senior Data Analyst

New York County Defender Services

Celia Joyce (she/they) is the Senior Data Analyst at New York County Defender Services. Celia began her career at NYCDS in 2016, shortly after graduating from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Neuroscience and Behavior. In her first role, she developed a new position dedicated to liaising with and advocating for clients incarcerated in New York City and State correctional facilities. In recent years, Celia has played a significant role in the development and customization of NYCDS’s new case management system, as well as the organization’s transition to fully-digital operations. She currently develops office-wide workflows, implementation strategies, and curricula to aid the office in providing exceptional services to clients. Celia is a member of the NYCDS LGBTQIA+ Affinity Group and co-chairs the Data Subcommittee of the Racial Justice Litigation Working Group, through which she has spearheaded strategies to gather accurate, self-defined indicators of clients’ unique identities. Celia has contributed to numerous impactful projects, including a fiscal analysis of taxpayer benefits from services provided by Brooklyn Community Bail Fund and a ground-breaking report published by NYSACDL and NACDL titled “The New York State Trial Penalty: The Constitutional Right to Trial Under Attack”.

Stanford Hickman

Supervising Trial Attorney

New York County Defender Services

Stanford Hickman is a criminal defense attorney currently based in New York City. A Howard University School of Law Graduate, he began his career as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society in Queens New York and progressed to senior trial attorney with New York County Defender Services, (NYCDS). During his tenure as a senior trial attorney with NYCDS, Hickman has litigated numerous cases including homicides, armed robberies, and a high-profile celebrity stalking case. Hickman, along with trial work, is currently a supervisor with NYCDS overseeing and mentoring a team of attorneys as they develop in their career.

Additionally, he is involved in an initiative to formulate new policy and expand in-house training, toward combating implicit bias and advancing racial justice. Hickman also participates in numerous training programs around the country, he has served as a faculty member for Nash /York trial training, Department of Public Advocacy in Faubush, Kentucky and Office of the Alternative Defender in Denver, Colorado and Office of the Public Defender in Trenton, New Jersey. Locally, he serves as an adjunct professor with Seton Hall School of Law for their intersession trial advocacy program. Hickman is also a graduate of the inaugural class of the New York Black Defender Leadership Institute, (BDLI), which is sponsored by the Black Public Defender Association, and now serves on the faculty for BDLI.

Vickie Mwitanti

Trial Attorney

New York County Defender Services

Vickie Mwitanti is a sixth-year trial attorney at New York County Defender Services where she has had the privilege of representing folks accused of crimes in Manhattan. She is a past Black Defender Leadership Institute Fellow as well as co-chair for NYCDS’ Racial Justice Data Committee who focus their efforts towards using Data to strengthen race-conscious advocacy. She is a Suffolk University Law School graduate and spent most of her time in Boston as an advocate and community educator for fair housing. Although she is a lawyer by trade, she has always been a public servant by calling and her motivations are rooted in combatting race-based social justice issues.