What should you do if you are engaged by law enforcement when you are on the street? In this episode of Trail Blazing Justice, co-director of the Oregon Innocence Project Kenneth Kreuscher explains the rules for safely asserting your rights and understanding your risks with these three rules: don't trust, don't talk, don't consent. Whether you're a protester, non-citizen, or just someone who wants to understand how to navigate law enforcement interactions, this conversation breaks it down.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

What if your right to challenge an unjust imprisonment was the last line of defense against authoritarian rule? In this episode, we trace the ancient roots and modern battles over habeas corpus—from medieval England to Guantanamo Bay, to present-day America—uncovering how this vital legal safeguard is under renewed threat. As political leaders hint at suspending it under dubious claims of “invasion” or “insurrection,” this episode raises an urgent warning: democracy may hinge on whether we protect this fundamental right.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

In this episode, we continue our special series on Solitary Confinement by turning our focus to Oregon’s only women’s prison—Coffee Creek—and the often-overlooked realities of solitary confinement behind its walls. Kyle Black shares firsthand accounts of the degrading strip searches, traumatizing isolation, and the human toll of a system designed to punish, not protect. We explore how solitary is used as a catch-all for everything the prison can’t—or won’t—address, and ask: who is truly being kept safe?

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions of suicide, self-harm, and sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised. If these topics are distressing for you, please take care while listening, and consider skipping this episode if needed. Help is available to anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts. Call 988 to speak to someone today.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

Can the press still hold power accountable, or has the media itself become a battleground?

In this episode of Trail Blazing Justice, we explore the evolving role of journalism in the age of Trump. 

Alice Lundell, OJRC’s Director of Communication, join us to discuss how the media landscape has changed, the challenges of maintaining truth amid rising disinformation, and why journalism remains essential to justice. 

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

We dive into the tension between democracy and executive overreach. Steve and Bobbin unpack the significance of a recent landmark court order pushing back against Trump’s assault on law firms, they draw unsettling parallels between what we are currently seeing at the national level and pre-Nazi Germany, and provide an overview of Due Process and Habeas Corpus. Join us as we explore the enduring importance of the rule of law and civil liberties, and its connection to democracy.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

What happens when the law is weaponized to dismantle itself?

We’re joined this week by Steve Wax—former federal public defender and now Senior Counsel at the Oregon Justice Resource Center—to explore how legal norms and institutions are being deliberately unraveled.

From politicized prosecutions to defiance of court orders, this episode lays bare the calculated erosion of the systems meant to hold power in check.

This isn’t politics as usual—it’s a warning of what can come next

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

This week on Trailblazing Justice, we pull back the curtain on America’s immigration system — and it’s not what most people think. Our special guest, Erin McKee, from the Immigrant Rights Project, joins us to unpack how Oregon’s sanctuary laws actually keep everyone safer, and why the federal government has virtually unchecked power over noncitizens (Erin helps us by wading through the vernacular of immigration law!). We also break down the alarming national shifts—from ancient laws being dusted off to threats against birthright citizenship—and why ignoring these moves now could open the door to civil rights erosion for everyone. Spoiler: this isn’t just about immigration anymore.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

Trail Blazing Justice is doing a deep dive into the use of solitary confinement in Oregon prisons by producing a series on this important issue. TBJ welcomes guest Mark Wilson, who spent over three decades incarcerated, and has personal experience with solitary confinement. Mark is now out and a Legal Assistant/Policy Associate with the OJRC. Join us as Mark shares his insights and experiences and pulls back the curtain on practices that corrections officials would rather the public not know about and affirms what we all know, that solitary confinement is torture.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

Trail Blazing Justice is back once again! After a year-plus hiatus, OJRC is resuming the weekly Trail Blazing Justice podcast. In this episode, Bobbin discusses the ongoing Oregon 2025 legislative session with Zach, Julia, and The Kyles. They first explain the basics of Oregon's legislature and sessions, before diving into the several bills that OJRC is sponsoring during this session.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.

Was 2023 a year of progress or setback for Oregon’s justice system? Join us as Bobbin, Julia, Zach, and Justin reflect on the year that was, and forecast the road ahead in 2024.

The Trail Blazing Justice podcast is a production of the Oregon Justice Resource Center.