Phillip Carrigan joined the Public Defender’s Office in 2003. He currently coordinates the Communication Through Arts, Education Through Experience, Reading Workshop, and Recreation programs for the CLO. Mr. Carrigan received a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in 1993. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Political Science from UT in 1990. He has worked directly with at-risk youth since 1990 and has assisted youth and families involved with the Knox County Juvenile Court for over 12 years. Mr. Carrigan was named Social Worker of the Year by the East Tennessee Association for Child Care in 1997. He is active with a number of initiatives seeking to improve services to at-risk youth and serves on the advisory boards for the Heart of Knoxville Career Resource Center, the Knoxville Youth Transition Council, and Pacesetters inner city Christian outreach ministry. Mr. Carrigan is also working with representatives from the University, the CLO, and the community to develop a forensic social work certification program.

Laura Chambers joined the Public Defender's Office as Special Project Coordinator in September 1998. Prior to joining the Public Defender’s staff, Laura was Chief Deputy Clerk for the Circuit, General Sessions and Juvenile Court Clerk's Offices for 18 years. She is a certified Public Administrator and attended the University of Tennessee undergraduate program and UT Law School Paralegal Program in 1982-83. She has served as Co-Chair for Blount County Dogwood Arts Patron Program, and has volunteered at a local inner city school as part of a reading program for Knoxville Promise. She participated in the Public Defender "Partners in Law" program with the Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

Shannon Hitchcock joined the Public Defender's Office in 2010. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Tennessee and an M.S.S.A. from Case Western Reserve University. During her M.S.S.A. program, she completed internships with the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and the Children Who Witness Violence Program. While in graduate school, she worked as a contract interviewer for a statewide research program conducted through the National Institute of Justice, collecting data from individuals released from prison. She also volunteered as Director of Communications for student government and conducted fundraisers to benefit the annual AIDS Walk community event. For her dedication to social change and advocacy projects, she was awarded the Irene Sogg Gross Award for Humanitarian Services upon graduation. Prior to coming to the Public Defender's Office, Shannon was employed as a Forensic Social Worker for the State of Tennessee's Board of Probation and Parole and as an Adjunct Instructor for undergraduate students at the University of Tennessee as well as a Field Instructor for Social Work interns. Shannon currently provides biopsychosocial assessments, alternative sentencing plans, links clients to community resources, and offers supportive counseling services to clients at the CLO. Shannon is currently an LMSW working toward independent licensure as an LCSW.

Roger M. Nooe, Ph.D., LCSW,began working with the Public Defender’s Office in 2000 as a Forensic Social Worker. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work, having taught at the university for 30 years. Dr. Nooe received his Ph.D. from Tulane University. In addition to his teaching, he is an experienced mental health practitioner and has conducted extensive research on homelessness. Dr. Nooe is currently directing implementation of the Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness for the Mayors of Knoxville and Knox County.

Matthew Silvey joined the Community Law Office in 2009. He holds a B.S. in History from Tennessee Technological University and a M.S.S.W. from The University of Tennessee. Prior to graduate school, Matt provided service coordination for elderly and disabled adults who received in-home medical and homemaker services. As a graduate student Matt became interested in Forensic Social Work, completing his first clinical internship with The Boys and Girls Clubs of the TN Valley as a worker in the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Services Center. He completed his graduate studies as a clinical intern with the Community Law Office and went to work as the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Liaison for Knox County. In that capacity he contracted with The Helen Ross McNabb Center and the Knox County Sheriff's Department to provide continuum of care and discharge planning for adults with severe mental illness in the corrections system. In addition, he provided mental health training to local law enforcement officers and spoke to community groups about the criminalization of mental illness. Matt currently provides psychosocial assessment, sentencing advocacy, release planning, and supportive counseling services to clients at the CLO. Currently a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Matt is working towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, The Knoxville-Knox County Homeless Coalition, and the Appalachian Psychoanalytic Society.

Chris Smith joined the Public Defender's Office in July 2006 as a Forensic Social Worker after completing his master's education at the University of Tennessee's College of Social Work. During his MSSW program, Chris completed his second year internship at the Public Defender's Office. Prior to his work at the University of Tennessee, Chris spent 10 years working for and with inner city youth - most recently as a Facility Director at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. Chris is currently a CMSW working toward licensure as an LCSW.

Jane Swafford is a Blount County, Tennessee native and graduate of Heritage High School. She worked for the University of Tennessee before joining the PD staff as the office manager in 1990. She currently administers the Social Services Department of the Community Law Office. She lives with her husband and two children in Maryville.