Today, Hunter spoke once again with Nikki Baszynski of the Wren Collective to talk about the Criminal Legal System in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. This time, they discussed an update about youth representation in the county, and they also did a deep dive into how the county jail is denying prisoners in person visits and recording their conversations with family.

Guest

Nikki Baszynski, Principal, Wren Collective

Resources:

Wren Collective Report

https://www.wrencollective.org/_files/ugd/8fe8f0_72700fa56eda43d78203966a3fbff476.pdf

Other Reporting on Cuyahoga County Jail Issues

https://signalcleveland.org/cuyahoga-county-jail-death-medical-care/

https://signalcleveland.org/how-cuyahoga-county-jail-video-visitation-works/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20the%20county%20ended,only%20virtual%20options%20to%20visit.

https://signalcleveland.org/cuyahoga-county-has-no-plans-to-bring-back-in-person-visits-for-friends-and-family-at-the-jail/

https://signalcleveland.org/in-an-about-face-cuyahoga-county-is-now-considering-allowing-in-person-jail-visits/

Today, Hunter spoke once again with Nikki Baszynski of the Wren Collective to talk about the Criminal Legal System in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. This time, they discussed an update about youth representation in the county, and they also did a deep dive into how the county jail is denying prisoners in person visits and recording their conversations with family.

Guest

Nikki Baszynski, Principal, Wren Collective

Resources:

Wren Collective Report

https://www.wrencollective.org/_files/ugd/8fe8f0_72700fa56eda43d78203966a3fbff476.pdf

Other Reporting on Cuyahoga County Jail Issues

https://signalcleveland.org/cuyahoga-county-jail-death-medical-care/

https://signalcleveland.org/how-cuyahoga-county-jail-video-visitation-works/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20the%20county%20ended,only%20virtual%20options%20to%20visit.

https://signalcleveland.org/cuyahoga-county-has-no-plans-to-bring-back-in-person-visits-for-friends-and-family-at-the-jail/

https://signalcleveland.org/in-an-about-face-cuyahoga-county-is-now-considering-allowing-in-person-jail-visits/

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Resgitser for the ABA Public Defense Summit Here

https://events.americanbar.org/event/770bddad-346e-4f89-85f1-3e5b1d92b4ba/regProcessStep1

Today, Hunter spoke once again with Heather Cessna, the Executive Director of the Kansas Board of Indigents' Defense Services. This time, Hunter and Heather discuss how Kansas Public Defense could be close to collapsing due to a lack of lawyers and a legislature that has yet to properly address the issue.

Guest

Heather Cessna, Executive Director, Kansas Board of Indigents' Defense Services

Resources:

Contact KBDIS

https://www.ksbids.gov/

Contact Heather

[email protected]

Rural Justice Report

https://kscourts.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/News/2024-News-Releases/December-2024/Rural-Justice-Initiative-Committee-releases-report#:~:text=In%20its%20report%2C%20the%20committee,attorneys%20for%20every%201%2C000%20residents.

KBIDS Wellness Report

https://www.ksbids.gov/initiatives

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Register for the ABA Public Defender Summit Here

https://events.americanbar.org/event/770bddad-346e-4f89-85f1-3e5b1d92b4ba/regProcessStep1

Today, Hunter spoke once again with Rob Poggenklass and Bryan Kennady from Justice Forward Virginia. Last year, Justice Forward Virginia joined the show to discuss the 2024 criminal justice policies being floated in Virginia. Today, Rob and Bryan are here to discuss what the 2025 legislative session has in store for criminal justice reform in Virginia.

Guest

Rob Poggenklass, Executive Director, Justice Forward Virginia

Bryan Kennedy, Public Defender, Fairfax County, Treasurer, Justice Forward Virginia

Resources:

Justice Forward Virginia 2025 Legislative Priorities

https://justiceforwardva.com/blog/2024/12/13/2025-virginia-general-assembly-legislative-priorities

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Today, Hunter spoke with Kerrie Liang, a student at Princeton University, to discuss the wrongful conviction of Ivery Dorsey. Through her and classmates work at Princeton, Kerrie walks us through how the inconsistent eye witness testimony of one person ultimately led to the wrongful conviction of Ivery.

Guest

Kerrie Liang, Student, Princeton University

Resources:

More Resources about Ivery's Case

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpV9qkt7JHM

https://www.instagram.com/bringiveryhome/reel/CsKxrNrOGgy/

https://makinganexoneree.org/2023

https://www.gofundme.com/f/wrongfully-convictedlegal-help-for-ivery-dorsey

https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/ivery-dorsey-case-princeton-students/

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Today, Hunter spoke with Hans Meyer and Holly Lucas to discuss a variety of topics at the intersection of the criminal legal and immigration systems. With the Trump administration poised to implement a policy of mass deportation, Hans and Holly offer insights into how they have worked in court rooms and the Colorado State Legislature to guide Colorado to more humane immigration policies.

Guest

Holly Lucas, Public Defender, Colorado State Public Defender

Hans Meyer, Criminal Defense and Immigration Lawyer, The Meyer Law Office

Resources:

Contact Hans

https://themeyerlawoffice.com/

Laken Riley Act

https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-statement-on-senate-advancing-laken-riley-act-to-final-vote

What to do if ICE shows up

https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/EmployerGuide-NELP-NILC-2017-07-1.pdf

https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/immigrants-rights

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Today, Hunter spoke with Senior Reporter at The Appeal, Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg. A few weeks ago, Hunter was joined by Phil Wilayto of the Virginia Defender to talk about why prisoners of Virginia's Red Onion Prison were lighting themselves on fire. Today, Elizabeth joins to reveal how despite the public proclamations by DOC officials, prisoners were lighting themselves on fire all along.

Guest

Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg, Senior Reporter, The Appeal

Resources:

Follow Elizabeth

https://x.com/elizabethweill

https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:dld6gvzefnncxuiaccy2u3qn

Read about Red Onion Prison

https://theappeal.org/red-onion-virginia-prison-self-immolated/

https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-12-06/ekong-eshiet-kevin-rashid-johnson-red-onion-vadoc-wise-county

https://virginiamercury.com/2025/01/09/rally-continues-call-for-investigation-into-red-onion-state-prison-presses-for-prison-reforms/

https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-01-10/red-onion-prison-incarceration-wise-county-pound-death-mike-jones

https://www.prisonradio.org/news-update/red-onion-state-prison-update/

https://theappeal.org/virginia-prison-response-red-onion-self-immolation/

https://theappeal.org/prisoners-intentionally-burned-themselves-red-onion-state-prison-virginia/

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Today, Hunter spoke with Professor Brittany Freidman about her new book Carceral Apartheid. In this book, Professor Freidman tells the story of the California Prison System, the racist violence the system permits to exist, and how the prison system used all of us power to crush the political arm of the Black Guerilla Family. Through this conversation, Hunter and Professor Freidman hope to demonstrate what our system does and does not permit to continue.

Guest

Brittany Friedman, Professor of Sociology, University of Southern California

Resources:

Pick up a Copy of Brittany's Book

https://uncpress.org/book/9781469683409/carceral-apartheid/

COINTELPRO

https://vault.fbi.gov/cointel-pro

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/federal-bureau-investigation-fbi

https://www.pbs.org/hueypnewton/actions/actions_cointelpro.html

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/18/956741992/documentary-exposes-how-the-fbi-tried-to-destroy-mlk-with-wiretaps-blackmail

https://www.lib.berkeley.edu/about/news/fbi

https://www.brandeis.edu/writing-program/write-now/2018-2019/silverman-jacob/index.html

https://ccrjustice.org/home/blog/2020/08/04/fbi-s-legacy-smearing-movements-terrorism-justify-suppression

https://moguldom.com/448109/fact-check-before-malcolm-x-was-murdered-j-edgar-hoover-sent-message-do-something-about-malcolm-x/

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1969/07/16/J-Edgar-Hoover-Black-Panther-Greatest-Threat-to-US-Security/1571551977068/

https://onlineexhibits.library.yale.edu/s/black-panther-may-day/page/the-black-panthers-and-the-fb

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Today, Hunter sat down with Scott Troxell to wrap up our conversation on Colorado Municipal Courts. This time, the conversation focuses on how Rifle Municipal Courts were giving people 6 Months sentences for thefts that the state only gave 10 day sentences.

Guest

Scott Troxell, Attorney, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Resources:

2017 ACLU Report on Colorado Municipal Courts

https://www.aclu-co.org/sites/default/files/JUSTICE-DERAILED-web.pdf

Coverage of Municipal Courts in Rifle by Denver Post

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/24/colorado-legislature-municipal-court-bills/

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/09/22/colorado-municipal-courts-sentences-minor-crime/

ACLU Amicus Brief

https://www.aclu-co.org/en/cases/mobley-v-city-rifle-amicus

Rifle Changes Ordinance

https://www.coloradopolitics.com/courts/colorado-supreme-court-dimisses-appeal-after-rifle-backs-down/article_1ff3e57e-9e04-11ee-9a8a-6b95521cebde.html

Current Colorado Supreme Court Issues

https://www.aclu-co.org/en/cases/camp-v-city-westminster-amicus

https://www.aclu-co.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/2024-11-07_aclu_cff_amicus_br.pdf

Contact Scott

[email protected]

Contact Hunter Parnell:

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Today, Hunter sat down with longtime death penalty abolitionist activist Abraham Bonowitz. On previous episodes about death penalty abolition, the show has primarily focused on the successes and failures of the fight in the court room. Today however, Abe joins the show to discuss the types of media campaigns and coalition building that is necessary to fight and ultimately abolish the death penalty outside of the four corners of the court house.

Guest

Abraham Bonowitz, Executive Director, Death Penalty Action

Resources:

Death Penalty Action contact

https://deathpenaltyaction.org/

https://www.facebook.com/deathpenaltyaction

https://x.com/DeathPenaltyAct

https://www.instagram.com/deathpenaltyaction/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMW5q-nvTO9XSm38BwgwJgw

Melissa Lucio

https://freemelissalucio.org/

https://www.amazon.com/State-Texas-Vs-Melissa-Special/dp/B08L3Q69NR

https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/movies/the-state-of-texas-vs.-melissa/1e71f675-ac8e-303c-a9fa-5dae467c02df

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/trial-judge-declares-melissa-lucio-to-be-actually-innocent-recommends-texas-cca-overturn-conviction-and-death-sentence

https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/15/melissa-lucio-death-penalty-judge-overturn/

Commutations

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/25/nx-s1-5237504/biden-gets-support-for-commuting-federal-death-row-sentences-for-37-of-40-prisoners

https://www.newsweek.com/death-row-joe-biden-commute-dylann-roof-dzhokhar-tsarnaev-robert-bowers-2005007

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/in-wake-of-president-bidens-federal-commutations-north-carolina-governor-cooper-grants-clemency-to-15-death-sentenced-prisoners-the-largest-grant-of-capital-clemency-in-state-history

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/23/g-s1-38794/biden-death-row-commutations

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-prisoners-cant-legally-object-bidens-death-row-commutations-doj-ar-rcna186280

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/23/us/politics/biden-commutes-37-death-sentences.html

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Today, Hunter sat down with Keri Williams to continue our coverage of Municipal Courts in Colorado. This time, they discussed how Pueblo Municipal Courts were giving people years in jail for contempt of court charges.

Guest

Keri Williams, Attorney, Pueblo, Colorado

Resources:

2017 ACLU Report on Colorado Municipal Courts

https://www.aclu-co.org/sites/default/files/JUSTICE-DERAILED-web.pdf

Coverage of Municipal Courts in Pueblo by Denver Post

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/07/21/pueblo-municipal-contempt-of-court-charges-jail-time/

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/08/01/pueblo-municipal-court-workplace-investigation/

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/09/11/pueblo-contempt-court-city-defends-investigation/

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/10/11/pueblo-judge-contempt-of-court-aclu-challenge/

https://www.denverpost.com/2024/12/10/pueblo-inmates-released-contempt-court-ruled-unconstitutional/

Contact Keri

[email protected]

https://www.beckerlawgroup.net/

Contact Hunter Parnell:

[email protected]

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@PublicDefenselessPodcast

Twitter

@PDefenselessPod

www.publicdefenseless.com

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