Official Site of The State of New Jersey

TRENTON – March 4, 2025 – The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJOPD) today announced the official launch of its collaborative, holistic representation model, marking a significant shift toward a more person-centered approach to its work.

This model is designed to be more community connected and interdisciplinary to better address the complex social, emotional, and economic challenges individuals face when navigating the legal system. By integrating direct legal representation with links to mental health services, social supports, and community tools, the NJOPD will further enhance its ability to provide quality legal services as well as to connect individuals with resources needed to rebuild and strengthen their lives.

“The launch of the holistic representation model is another step towards a strong, fairer, more equitable criminal defense system,” said Governor Murphy. “Taking a comprehensive, holistic approach to addressing the root causes of justice system involvement, paired with quality legal services, will equip individuals with the tools they need to rebuild and excel in their lives post-trial.”

“Holistic defense is about more than just winning cases—it’s about ensuring that those we represent have the comprehensive support they need to break the cycle of legal involvement,” said Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti. “By addressing the root causes of legal issues—such as mental illness, addiction, unstable housing, and economic hardship—we can help individuals move forward, improve outcomes, and create stronger, safer communities.”

A collaborative, holistic approach to public defense places an emphasis on team-based work and mitigation, ensuring that a fuller context of an individual’s life is considered by the system. Traditionally, for instance, criminal defense focuses on legal strategies and outcomes. While these aspects remain crucial, they often miss the deeper struggles and life-altering consequences individuals face when they encounter the legal system. This new model will increase the NJOPD’s ability to understand and provide comprehensive information to legal teams as well as to those it represents.

Through this model, increased collaboration will extend to community organizations as well as to internal staff across the NJOPD’s various practices. In particular, the agency will partner more closely with local organizations on the ground that provide essential services—like mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and housing support —to New Jerseyans. Internally, the agency will continue to foster a more integrated environment via the increased use of non-attorney advocates and navigators to support collaboration and community links. By strengthening partnerships and team-based work, the NJOPD will push for better solutions focused on rehabilitation and community supports.

The NJOPD’s new approach to public defense represents a significant step toward a more just criminal legal system—one that prioritizes collaboration, support, and rehabilitation. By recognizing the complexities of the individuals it serves and by engaging a wide range of professionals both within the agency and in the community, the NJOPD is setting a new standard for representation that is poised to improve lives and strengthen communities throughout New Jersey.

Dan Lombardo
President and CEO of Volunteers of America Delaware Valley

“We are delighted to be here today to celebrate the launch of Public Defender Sellitti's holistic defense pilot program. Addressing individuals' legal and non-legal needs simply makes sense- and the benefits are numerous, including reducing recidivism and the costs of the justice system, but most importantly, providing individuals with the supports and resources they need to be successful.”

Rebecca Solow
Founder and Co-Executive Director, Partners for Justice

"When we engage community partners, develop strong ties with the people we serve, and tap into the deep well of existing legal knowledge, public defender offices can become engines of public safety, public health, and economic mobility. When we ask the individuals we serve what they really need and learn about their goals, we can set them up for success not just in the courtroom, but well beyond it. This is what Collaborative Defense is all about. We are so excited to partner with Public Defender Sellitti and her team and cannot wait to see all the great work we will do together in the Garden State."

Chris Agans
Executive Director, NJ-STEP

“We at NJ-STEP are thrilled to embark on this partnership with New Jersey’s Office of the Public Defender, as it aims to transform the landscape of legal defense in our state. One of the most exciting aspects of this initiative is the effort to employ formerly incarcerated college graduates within the public defender's team. These practitioners will bring invaluable insights and lived experiences that are crucial in understanding the unique challenges and barriers faced by New Jersey citizens engaged with the criminal legal system. By incorporating the voices of those with lived expertise, we are enriching the support network available to clients while fostering a more compassionate and informed approach to defense.

These advocates will contribute towards more just outcomes and to the holistic well-being of individuals, addressing the underlying social, economic, and psychological factors that often contribute to their circumstances. I hope this partnership will create a ripple effect, enhancing the effectiveness of legal representation while also empowering those who have previously been marginalized by the system to enact process reforms that reduce our reliance on incarceration and its collateral costs for us as a community and as a state.”

Andrea Steinberg
Chief Executive Officer, Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties

“On behalf of the Board & staff at Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties, I would like to thank Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti for selecting our agency to collaborate on this important initiative. Each day, our dedicated team provides critical services and programs to more than 15,000 residents. For those who require justice involved services, we believe this partnership will create meaningful change and improve outcomes for individuals involved in the judicial system.”

Gloria-Ann Seel
AVP Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine, AtlantiCare Behavioral Health

“AtlantiCare believes overwhelmingly in the impact social determinants of health have on individuals’ overall health outcomes. There are many additional and often underlying life factors that contribute to an individual’s involvement in the criminal justice system. We believe that to truly reduce recidivism and ensure individuals are thriving in the community, these factors need to be at the forefront of treatment. Our approach to treatment does just that. We see an individual as a whole person and work to treat the whole person and not just the symptoms that are apparent.

We are excited and honored to partner with the Office of the Public Defender on its holistic model of legal representation. Community collaboration is so important and is a key to making progress in this work. There is such a deep need for interdisciplinary approaches to these social issues. As Helen Keller said, ‘Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.’”

Colleen Smith
Director, New Jersey Programs, Center for Justice Innovation

“The Center for Justice Innovation has been a proud partner of the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender for over a decade. By putting people and communities at the center of legal decision-making, the Office's transition to holistic defense complements our community justice work in New Jersey. The Center is thrilled to continue to grow our collaborations with the Office of the Public Defender as they expand their holistic defense model.”

Marleina Ubel
Senior Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective 

"New Jersey’s new collaborative, holistic defense model is a critical step toward ensuring both justice and public safety and addresses the underlying social, emotional, and economic challenges individuals face. This approach fosters not only better outcomes for those involved in the criminal legal system but also strengthens our communities. By integrating legal representation with mental health support, housing services, and addiction treatment, we are working to break the cycle and build safer, more resilient communities across the state."

Jeanne LoCicero
Legal Director, ACLU-NJ

“Holistic defense provides a more equitable approach to administering justice by demanding that people be recognized as more than just their cases before the court – they are people with lived experiences who have families and futures. We’re grateful for the leadership of Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti and her team as they shift to a more modern, comprehensive, and human-centered approach to public defense for New Jersey’s communities. We look forward to continuing to work together to build a more just state for all.”

Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer
Executive Director and Co Founder of Salvation and Social Justice
Pastor of Greater Mount Zion A.M.E Church in Trenton

"NJOPD's support for collaborative holistic defense is vital for a just and equitable criminal legal system. This model addresses underlying issues like mental health, substance use, and socio-economic challenges, going beyond traditional legal representation. By integrating social services, legal advocacy, and community support, holistic defense empowers individuals, reduces recidivism, and strengthens communities disproportionately affected by the criminal legal system. We commend OPD for their bold leadership in this necessary step.”