In 2003, RMIAN was selected as one of six programs nationwide to implement the Legal Orientation Presentation Program. These presentations ensure that everyone has an opportunity to access accurate legal information, even if they cannot afford private representation.
The model for this type of presentation was originally developed in 1989 by the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Florence, Arizona. This program proved successful not only at disseminating legal information and improving access to pro bono counsel, but also in increasing the efficiency of Immigration Court proceedings. Recognizing the potential for this “Justice Efficiency Model,” the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) funded and evaluated three 90-day pilot projects. The evaluation demonstrated that the programs led to faster case completion and increased availability to representation. As a result, EOIR recommended that the program be expanded to all INS (now DHS) detention facilities. Based on the findings of the EOIR evaluation, in 2002 Congress appropriated funds to implement legal orientation programs in several detention facilities. RMIAN was honored to be selected as one of only six programs nationwide to implement this innovative and exciting program. RMIAN’s selection was based on its cooperative working relationship with local representatives at EOIR, DHS, and GEO Group (the private contractor of the detention facility), as well as its proven record for leveraging limited resources into superior legal representation.
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Rocky
Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
3489 West 72nd Avenue, Suite 211 Westminster, CO 80030
phone (303) 433-2812 • fax (303) 422-3823
this
site was last updated on
May 08, 2008
direct comments about the site to
arm25@duke.edu