Oklahoma — Public Defenders — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Public Defenders

Defendants on the lower end of the socio-economic scale find themselves at the mercy of public defenders who are swamped with cases, understaffed, and underfunded. Research shows that even before mass incarceration accelerated in the 1980s, overburdened systems of indigent defense struggled to meet the 6th Amendment constitutional mandate. Public defenders usually have the deck stacked against them due to discovery laws favoring prosecutors and lack of sufficient resources.

Keeping Women Out of Jail, One Mother at a Time

“But Linda was one of the lucky ones. She ended up spending just eight days in jail. With the help of Still She Rises, a mother-focused law firm in Tulsa, she was able to convince the judge to give her a second chance. Since being released in January, she has completed a 60-day rehabilitation program and is doing community service in lieu of paying the court fines. She even has plans to start a prison ministry to help women behind bars.“

Vera Institute of Justice

September 21, 2018

Public DefendersPhillip ReevesSeptember 26, 2018Vera Institute, Oklahoma, Still She RisesComment

Public Defenders

Galsworthy CJR Program

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