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    Chronological April 23, 2022

    Public Defenseless covers… trust.

    Written by hunter.parnell
     
    On this episode of Public Defenseless, host Hunter Parnell covers the difficulty of building trust back in communities with a negative view of public defenders. In the short time that I have hosted this podcast, I've noticed a consistent theme: those who have any interaction with the criminal system and public defense very often have little to no trust in public defense. Whether it is shown through calling them "Public Pretenders" or simply viewing them as a part of the problem, it is essential trust is built back if reform is going to come.
     
    I also pushback against the idea that it is somehow un-American or un-Constitutional to be "soft on crime". Just a basic overview of the Bill of Rights shows us that while the founders were a lot of things, they most certainly were not people who were tough on crime. Innocent until proven guilty, protections against unlawful searches and seizures, cruel and unusual punishment, self-incrimination, and excessive bail. These are all "soft on crime". 
     
    Finally, I give my thoughts on the 15 awesome guests that have come on the show over the past few months. From the power of the judiciary in Texas, the "Black Hole" of Mississippi, the user fees in South Dakota and Louisiana, the municipal courts of Colorado, I point out the lessons learned from each and what we can do to build off of their experience. 
     
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