Everyday Injustice

It was the 80s, and child sex cases and ritual cult cases were the paranoia. As the petitioners put it, at "the time in which the allegations arose - what has been deemed a period of "near hysteria" about child sexual abuse in the United States - the allegations were believed and continued unchecked throughout the prosecution of the three adults."

That coupled with faulty science and lack of understanding at the susceptibility of children to tell adults what they wanted to hear led to the wrongful conviction of Junior Chandler.

Everyday Injustice speaks to five people from the Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic including Founder James Coleman and Theresa Newman, co-director of the Wrongful Convictions about this massive injustice and the efforts underway to free Mr. Chandler.

Cy Vance announced he would not seek reelection after four terms as DA of NY. Whoever succeeds him will be just the fourth DA in the last 80 years.

Vance has left a mixed legacy - pushing through some reforms, tussling with former President Trump, criticized for mishandling high profile sexual predator cases and failing to reform Rikers and other problems.

Aboushi is one of several reformers vying for the Democratic nomination. Listen as she discusses what electing a woman of color - the first of each - to Manhattan DA would mean for criminal justice reform.

A few years ago Ronnie Greene told the stunning story of the police shooting and killing completely innocent families fleeing the horror of Katrina on a bridge in New Orleans. Two innocent people died. Several others severely injured. The police claimed to have been shot at first and sought attempted murder charges against some, but the charges did not hold.

What eventually emerged was a stunning misjudgment by the police and a sloppy but stunning attempt to cover it up.

Despite the brazenness of the conduct by police and their actions, this incident has not drawn near the scrutiny of many other officer involved shootings.

Everyday Injustice talks with Greene, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, about his amazing account, what happened and why.

Kim Foxx is trying to reform one of the most notorious counties in the Country - see what she is doing about issues like wrongful convictions, police shootings and bail reform.

Kim Foxx took over in the wake of the Laquan Macdonald killing and revelations in Chicago - a city that has had its share of scandals from the torture scandal and Lt. Jon Burge to the federal report on policing to one of the highest incidents of wrongful convictions in the country. Kim Foxx talks about policing in Chicago and her efforts at reforming the system.

Everyday Injustice checks in with Laura Conover who was elected in the fall as Pima County Attorney in Arizona. She talks about her first few months on the job, what she has been able to accomplish and what she is still looking to accomplish.

Justin Brooks has headed the California Innocence Project since 1999. Over that time, the US has learned a lot about wrongful convictions and while it remains exceedingly difficult to free people wrongly convicted, the existence of wrongful convictions in the criminal legal system has helped to bring about reform. Listen as Justin Brooks talks about the state of wrongful convictions and cases like Brian Banks and JoAnn Parks.

In January Alec Karakatsanis argued before the Supreme Court of California on the need to end cash bail in the Humphrey case.

The civil rights lawyer, social justice advocate founder and Executive Director of Civil Rights Corps, a Washington D.C. impact litigation nonprofit.

Listen as Alec discusses with Everyday Injustice about the Humphrey case and injustice of cash bail.

July protests in San Luis Obispo where protesters blocked a local freeway turned into an arrest of Tianna Arrata and several co-defendants who face criminal charges in San Luis Obispo. After a local judge recused the DA's office and local prosecutor Dan Dow for bias, the AG's office has continued the prosecution.

Everyday injustice talks with Curtis Briggs, Brian Ford, and Vince Barrientos of Pier 5 Law Offices about the case.

Mike Schmidt won the Willamot District Attorney last summer, preparing to take over in January, when the outgoing incumbent resigned and he was appointed to start immediately. Right after his win, Portland was hit with protests, federal troops and turmoil.

Schmidt talks to Everyday Injustice about the experience, what he has done as prosecutor and the situation on the ground in Portland.

Diana Becton is a former judge, appointed as DA in Contra Costa County and then won in her own right. With the appointment of AG Xavier Becerra by Biden to a federal post, the AG has become one of the most coveted posts with a lot of people maneuvering behind the scenes to get the appointment from Governor Newsom.

Becton recently received the endorsement by the Legislative Black Caucus. She talks about her views on criminal justice reform and why a reformer is needed as California Attorney General.