indigent defense — Blog — Criminal Injustice

Bonus: COVID-19 and Funding Public Defense

Louisiana's public defender system is funded by fines from traffic violations. But with far fewer cars on the road due to COVID-19, an already badly underfunded system is at the breaking point.

Bonus EpisodesDavid HarrisMay 5, 2020public defender, indigent defense, funding, COVID-19, Louisiana, traffic stops, fines

#99: Holistic Criminal Defense

We try to solve the problem of mass incarceration by eliminating mandatory sentences, or by getting rid of cash bail. But what about a better method of providing criminal defense services? Could this cut prison and jail populations, AND secure public safety? There’s a way to do this: use a holistic model for criminal defense services.

InterviewsDavid HarrisFebruary 19, 2019James Anderson, defense, indigent defense, Justice Policy Program, Institute for Civil Justice, Harvard Law Review, RAND Corporation, mass incarceration, mandatory minimums, sentencing, public defender, holistic defense, 91-120

Bonus: Working Hard, or Hardly Working?

A Texas judge orders a public defender to put less effort into defending poor clients.

episodes