GIDEON’S ARMY

Broadening support for indigent defense reform

About the Project

“I want to talk about the Constitution and why it’s important — even if you are guilty — of why you deserve to be represented. We expect these public defenders to be saints, but they are humans.” — Dawn Porter, Director & Producer

According to The New York Times, “an estimated 80% of felony defendants in large states are too poor to hire their own lawyers.” And as Dawn Porter demonstrates in her film Gideon’s Army, the problem is particularly pronounced in the South, where under-resourced public defenders struggle to keep up with the consequences of strict drug laws. Working with the film before and after its 2013 broadcast on HBO, Active Voice developed a strategic plan for using the film as a tool to broaden support for state-based indigent defense reform, using major moments in its distribution life — from festival release to post-broadcast — as opportunities to spotlight efforts for indigent defense. Our work led to new relationships between indigent defense reform organizations and those more broadly focused on criminal and social justice, and we also created a toolkit for advocacy groups to use as part of ongoing campaigns.

Our Work

  • Two national braintrusts and full campaign strategy development
  • Partner cultivation
  • Targeted outreach during film festival, including panel discussion coordination
  • Coordination with "Gideon at 50" activities
  • Creation of "Gideon's Army at Work" Toolkit for advocates
  • Evaluation of film festival's contributions to local objectives and audience awareness

Outcomes

  • Comprehensive strategic plan and partner commitments
  • Influential participation in select film festivals
  • 75% of film festival viewers said the film changed their perspective on indigent defense
  • 83% of film festival viewers were more likely to support legislation to reform indigent defense after seeing the film
  • Increased support for Gideon's Promise

Key Partners

  • Trilogy Films
  • Ford Foundation
  • Gideon's Promise
  • Spitfire Strategies
  • National Legal Aid and Defenders Association
  • The Constitution Project
  • ACLU

Film Trailer

Filmmaker Dawn Porter

@GideonsArmyFilm

www.gideonsarmythefilm.com 

Gallery

AV PUBLICATIONS

  • "Gideon's Army at Work" Toolkit

    This guide was crafted though careful consultation with ACLU affiliates and others to ensure relevance and useful connections between the film and how it fits into advocates' priorities around indigent defense. Download the guide here.

RESOURCES