Innovation Hub

RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY

By Drew Gieseke

Aunique program in St. Louis County is working to reduce racial disparities in the legal system by assisting residents with a variety of legal services.

Known as the Tap In Center, the program first opened at the Florissant Valley branch of the St. Louis County Library, with a second location added in April at the Lewis and Clark branch, to expand its work in the metro area.

“The Tap In Center is a community-based space for individuals to get legal assistance, reengage with their criminal case and connect with local support services at no charge,” says Miranda Gibson, director of the Tap In Center and co-director of the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge grant in St. Louis County, which aims to safely reduce the jail population and address racial disparities in the county.

The Tap In Center is one of five local initiatives implemented to pursue this goal. Its hallmark service is offering a space and mechanism to help participants recall an active bench warrant for failure to appear in court.

Individuals might not appear in court for a variety of reasons. When they connect with the Tap In Center, they’re paired with a defense attorney to discuss their case and explain what prevented them from attending their court date. The defense attorney then speaks with a prosecutor to discuss what happened and request that the person’s warrant be recalled.

Since its launch in September 2020, the Tap In Center has partnered with public defenders and volunteer defense attorneys to help recall nearly 375 warrants at the ordinance violation, misdemeanor and felony levels. This work has prevented individuals from being arrested and jailed, saving them from unnecessary incarceration. Studies show that being incarcerated for even a few days can be harmful to individuals and families.

“The unique partnership with the prosecuting attorney’s office is essential to this program,” Gibson says. “Their accessibility and willingness to collaborate on these cases allow us to process these requests and get clients in and out in 20 minutes or so … ”

Locations were selected strategically by identifying areas of St. Louis County where residents are most impacted and involved in the criminal justice system. Gibson says that these communities are where racial and economic disparities run deepest.

“We made a conscious decision to place the Tap In Center in a location that was safe and without the fear of arrest, easily accessible and family-friendly,” she says.

Gibson says that the Tap In Center hopes to partner with local defense attorneys and law firms that are willing to provide low-cost legal assistance.

“We have many participants who are not represented by an attorney,” she says. “They do not qualify to be represented by a public defender, but also do not have the means to spend thousands on private defense representation.”

Gibson adds: “Generally, the best way to help would be to just spread the word. Most of our referrals come from word-of-mouth.”

The Tap In Center operates every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. out of the Florissant Valley library branch and every first Tuesday of the month at the Lewis and Clark branch. Individuals also can call 314-669-6185 or email tapinstl@gmail.com to receive remote assistance.