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In February, I’m moving to NYC to work with @BklynDefender and @ScottHech on a cutting-edge public defender and client-led media advocacy project. I’m excited to be expanding my work in the movement to end mass incarceration.
I've been moved by the work @BklynDefender has been doing that uses media and strategic campaigns to leverage issues public defenders are seeing on the front lines of the criminal justice system into action and change. The following is some of their work to date.
Prosecutorial Power: Prosecutors have the power to drive mass incarceration, but they also have the power to end it. If you believe in ending mass incarceration so should your district attorney. Vote for a DA who shares your values. PowerOfProsecutors.com
Evidence Law: In New York, 95% of criminal cases result in guilty pleas. But New York’s "discovery" law does not require the prosecutor to turn over any information, such as police reports, until trial begins. Demand reform: JusticeIsBlindfolded.com
Immigration Defense: WeHaveRights.us “An empowerment campaign to prepare for and defend our rights during encounters with ICE. 4 videos in 7 languages. What to do when ICE: is at our doors, is inside our homes, stops us in the streets, arrests us.”
Immigrant Right to Counsel: More than a million immigrants are applying for asylum or other legal relief, struggling to survive while they wait. They are not guaranteed an attorney and are often unjustly deported. You can help: WhileTheyWait.org
Wealth-based Detention: Every day in America, 500,000 people are jailed pre-trial. Too poor to buy their freedom and presumed innocent. Pre-trial detention destroys lives, coerces guilty pleas, and drives mass incarceration. JailedWhileInnocent.com
Perpetual Punishment: “We punish people with criminal records long after they’ve paid their debt to society. And we all suffer for it." Watch this video on the collateral consequences of a criminal record.
The media advocacy project that I will be working on with @BklynDefender and @ScottHech has endless possibilities for advocating for criminal justice reform. This is really exciting. While I have a great life in Portland, it’s time for me to move and expand the work I’m doing.
This last year I have been working with @TheAppeal to help build their social media following. I’m leaving my job with them in February. It’s been a privilege to work with The Appeal team to shine a light on criminal justice issues happening at the local level across the country.
In February, I’m also leaving Portland. My home. I love this city and have lived in Oregon most of my life. The relationships I've developed here mean so much to me. The experiences I’ve had here, during my first few years as an attorney, have shaped who I’m today.
I discovered my passion for indigent defense when I was in law school interning in public defender’s offices in Oregon. When I became an attorney I went out on my own, but continued to work on cases for indigent defendants and did arraignments for a public defender’s office.
After Trump was elected, seeing the police response to protesters in Portland had a profound effect on me. This led me to get involved in legal support for protesters. The activists and attorneys I met through this, who are fighting against injustice, inspired me.
In Portland, I worked with advocates who are pushing for criminal justice reform. This gave me hope that real change is possible when we come together, organize, and speak out.
If you live in NYC and are working on criminal justice issues it would be great to connect. Please DM me! I want to learn more about the work people are doing in the criminal justice reform movement in NYC and how I can support it.
I appreciate everyone who has been following & interacting with me on here. After I move, I'm changing my Twitter handle to @nyclawgrrrl to reflect where I’m based. But I will continue tweeting about local & national issues related to criminal justice, immigration & protests.
