@wrencollective.bsky.social
“I think it’s really important for visions of safety, visions of justice, to be crafted by the people who live in those communities and care about those communities, I don’t think it should be based on partisan agendas." Candace Mitchell on Congress's attack on DC
washingtonian.com/2025/11/21/w...
washingtonian.com/2025/11/21/w...
What Congress’s New Crime Bills Would Mean for DC - Washingtonian
From imposing cash bail to decreasing police oversight, Congress is weighing changes that could remake DC’s justice system and revive long-running fights over who controls public safety in the Distric...
washingtonian.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
“I think it’s really important for visions of safety, visions of justice, to be crafted by the people who live in those communities and care about those communities, I don’t think it should be based on partisan agendas." Candace Mitchell on Congress's attack on DC
washingtonian.com/2025/11/21/w...
washingtonian.com/2025/11/21/w...
Modern criminal cases involve tons of digital evidence. Far too many defense attorneys just don’t have the resources to keep up with it all.
CA needs to invest in public defense so that these attorneys have the investigative staff they need and their clients get the defense that they deserve.
CA needs to invest in public defense so that these attorneys have the investigative staff they need and their clients get the defense that they deserve.
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Modern criminal cases involve tons of digital evidence. Far too many defense attorneys just don’t have the resources to keep up with it all.
CA needs to invest in public defense so that these attorneys have the investigative staff they need and their clients get the defense that they deserve.
CA needs to invest in public defense so that these attorneys have the investigative staff they need and their clients get the defense that they deserve.
California’s public defenders are drowning in cases, and the cost is justice denied. New data confirms it: workloads are beyond what’s ethical or effective. The right to counsel means nothing without time and support to defend.
Read more: scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
#PublicDefense #California
Read more: scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
#PublicDefense #California
November 14, 2025 at 5:02 PM
California’s public defenders are drowning in cases, and the cost is justice denied. New data confirms it: workloads are beyond what’s ethical or effective. The right to counsel means nothing without time and support to defend.
Read more: scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
#PublicDefense #California
Read more: scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcont...
#PublicDefense #California
In our latest newsletter, we look at the increased use of the death penalty in the last year and our move toward a more retributive and cruel society-- often at the cost of basic constitutional rights or even a person's innocence. You can read this edition here:
bit.ly/49Homch
bit.ly/49Homch
The Resurgence of the Death Penalty
us5.campaign-archive.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:47 PM
In our latest newsletter, we look at the increased use of the death penalty in the last year and our move toward a more retributive and cruel society-- often at the cost of basic constitutional rights or even a person's innocence. You can read this edition here:
bit.ly/49Homch
bit.ly/49Homch
There is a lot of harm that comes from mandatory pretrial detention. One that is less discussed but critically important: prosecutors upcharge cases to detain people even though they know they will never be able to prove the case at trial.
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
Proposition 3 is built on fear, not facts — and Texans will suffer | Opinion
Proposition 3 won’t make Texans safer, says Jay Jenkins of the Wren Collective. It will expand pretrial detention, overcrowd already deadly jails and punish legally innocent people.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:40 PM
There is a lot of harm that comes from mandatory pretrial detention. One that is less discussed but critically important: prosecutors upcharge cases to detain people even though they know they will never be able to prove the case at trial.
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...
In 2024, we documented how the Cuyahoga County Jail denied people access to in-person visits, harming their right to counsel and contact with loved ones. All communication was on the phone. Prosecutors were listening. Today, the Sheriff restored in-person visits.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
Cuyahoga County jail restores in-person visits
In-person visitation has returned to the Cuyahoga County jail. Sheriff Harold Pretel hopes face-to-face family connections will improve behavior and rehabilitation, though visitors will still be separ...
www.cleveland.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
In 2024, we documented how the Cuyahoga County Jail denied people access to in-person visits, harming their right to counsel and contact with loved ones. All communication was on the phone. Prosecutors were listening. Today, the Sheriff restored in-person visits.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted
Why Trump’s Use of Military in US Is So Controversial
President Donald Trump has repeatedly deployed the US military for domestic assignments. In June, he summoned the Guard and the Marines to Los Angeles — over the objections of local leaders — to subdu...
www.bloomberg.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Truly hard to imagine how the BOP will be able to recruit new guards, which is terrifying at a time when they are already short-staffed. This is bad for the guards and bad for those who are in their care.
BREAKING: The Federal Bureau of Prisons just terminated its union's collective bargaining agreement this afternoon, according to this letter posted online by the national union president:
September 26, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Truly hard to imagine how the BOP will be able to recruit new guards, which is terrifying at a time when they are already short-staffed. This is bad for the guards and bad for those who are in their care.
Reposted
Its hard to remember there are things happening at the local level, but that's where so much cruelty occurs every day- regardless of who is in Washington. This podcast documenting coverups in a county jail is a must listen to for anyone who cares about criminal justice. Also- vote for it!
Death County is a Signal Award finalist. If you’re so inclined, please go vote for it for listener’s choice.
vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...
vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...
September 24, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Its hard to remember there are things happening at the local level, but that's where so much cruelty occurs every day- regardless of who is in Washington. This podcast documenting coverups in a county jail is a must listen to for anyone who cares about criminal justice. Also- vote for it!
The misinformation floating around about bail is at an all-time high. Join @vidabjohnson.bsky.social @johnpfaff.bsky.social @jduffyrice.bsky.social @insharahman.bsky.social Kaethe Morris Hoffer to talk DC, IL, NJ, NY, and all things pretrial justice: Register: bit.ly/41wwE1Z
September 2, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The misinformation floating around about bail is at an all-time high. Join @vidabjohnson.bsky.social @johnpfaff.bsky.social @jduffyrice.bsky.social @insharahman.bsky.social Kaethe Morris Hoffer to talk DC, IL, NJ, NY, and all things pretrial justice: Register: bit.ly/41wwE1Z
Reminder- today at 6 ET-- register: bit.ly/4n2JIEC
August 28, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reminder- today at 6 ET-- register: bit.ly/4n2JIEC
Reposted
My wife's reaction:
"You should ask him to subscribe to your newsletter."
"You should ask him to subscribe to your newsletter."
This interview, which is also available to listen to as a podcast, provides a useful overview of some of the dangerous trends we’ve been seeing in recent months regarding federalization and militarization of state and local police functions.
Opinion | Trump Is Building His Own Paramilitary Force
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:55 PM
My wife's reaction:
"You should ask him to subscribe to your newsletter."
"You should ask him to subscribe to your newsletter."
Reposted
I went on Ezra Klein's podcast to discuss how Trump is building his own paramilitary force.
Grim as this discussion is, we recorded it *before* Trump's executive order directing Hegseth to set up rapid deployment units within the National Guard.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/o...
Grim as this discussion is, we recorded it *before* Trump's executive order directing Hegseth to set up rapid deployment units within the National Guard.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Building His Own Paramilitary Force
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I went on Ezra Klein's podcast to discuss how Trump is building his own paramilitary force.
Grim as this discussion is, we recorded it *before* Trump's executive order directing Hegseth to set up rapid deployment units within the National Guard.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/o...
Grim as this discussion is, we recorded it *before* Trump's executive order directing Hegseth to set up rapid deployment units within the National Guard.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/o...
Come hear @robertpeters.bsky.social @radleybalko.bsky.social dleybalko.bsky.social & Bethany Young from DC Justice Lab talk about Trump's attempt to take over our cities. RSVP: bit.ly/4n2JIEC
August 27, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Come hear @robertpeters.bsky.social @radleybalko.bsky.social dleybalko.bsky.social & Bethany Young from DC Justice Lab talk about Trump's attempt to take over our cities. RSVP: bit.ly/4n2JIEC
Urgent Call To Action! California’s public defense system is in crisis. “Flat-fee” contracts are a big reason why. Call the Senate now to support AB 690, which would finally ban these unethical agreements. Get involved here: www.justiceforallca.org/getinvolved
August 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Urgent Call To Action! California’s public defense system is in crisis. “Flat-fee” contracts are a big reason why. Call the Senate now to support AB 690, which would finally ban these unethical agreements. Get involved here: www.justiceforallca.org/getinvolved
Reposted
On Friday at 12 ET, join us for a briefing on the public health and safety impacts of the Trump cuts. Join @veraaction.bsky.social @ejusa.bsky.social @aclu.org @wrencollective.bsky.social and the Medical Justice Alliance: bit.ly/4nz1ss2
July 9, 2025 at 3:01 AM
On Friday at 12 ET, join us for a briefing on the public health and safety impacts of the Trump cuts. Join @veraaction.bsky.social @ejusa.bsky.social @aclu.org @wrencollective.bsky.social and the Medical Justice Alliance: bit.ly/4nz1ss2
"Across the country, including in places in California, defenders have been expected to triage cases, forced to make decisions about how to allocate their time in ways that are unfair to clients and attorneys."
San Francisco public defender made the right call to limit defender caseloads
The Daily Journal has more journalists covering the California legal profession than any other publication.
www.dailyjournal.com
July 8, 2025 at 7:58 PM
"Across the country, including in places in California, defenders have been expected to triage cases, forced to make decisions about how to allocate their time in ways that are unfair to clients and attorneys."
📣The California Senate Public Safety Committee has advanced AB 690, which will eliminate flat-fee contracts in public defense. Thank you to @jessearreguin.bsky.social, @scottwiener.bsky.social, @senatorsrp.bsky.social, and @senatorgonzalez.bsky.social who voted in favor of this much-needed reform.
June 25, 2025 at 6:10 PM
📣The California Senate Public Safety Committee has advanced AB 690, which will eliminate flat-fee contracts in public defense. Thank you to @jessearreguin.bsky.social, @scottwiener.bsky.social, @senatorsrp.bsky.social, and @senatorgonzalez.bsky.social who voted in favor of this much-needed reform.
📣Good news! The California Assembly recently advanced AB 690, a landmark public defense reform bill. We greatly appreciate the Assembly’s demonstrated support in pushing us closer to a more just public defense system.
June 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
📣Good news! The California Assembly recently advanced AB 690, a landmark public defense reform bill. We greatly appreciate the Assembly’s demonstrated support in pushing us closer to a more just public defense system.
Poor people accused of crimes are routinely convicted in California without anyone investigating the charges against them. Part of the problem is flat-fee lawyering: investigation eats into profits. But shortchanging justice costs lives & the integrity of the legal system itself 🧵 @calmatters.org
In 1976, 6-year-old Willie Cook was kidnapped and later found dead. The case went cold, but 32 years later, police received their first big break: a man named Steve Marshall came forward to say he had witnessed the boy’s kidnapping when he was 10 years old.
📸 @sacbee.com
1/7
📸 @sacbee.com
1/7
June 19, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Poor people accused of crimes are routinely convicted in California without anyone investigating the charges against them. Part of the problem is flat-fee lawyering: investigation eats into profits. But shortchanging justice costs lives & the integrity of the legal system itself 🧵 @calmatters.org
CA’s public defense system is in crisis. A key culprit is flat-fee contracts, which incentivize rushed, low-quality legal defense. We’ve been ringing the alarm because AB 690 would finally put an end to them. Asm. Nick Schultz lays out why reform can’t wait. www.ocregister.com/2025/05/29/n...
Nick Schultz: California’s public defense crisis demands passage of AB 690
Lawmakers must act swiftly to put an end to these flawed contracting practices and invest in public defense systems.
www.ocregister.com
June 17, 2025 at 4:28 PM
CA’s public defense system is in crisis. A key culprit is flat-fee contracts, which incentivize rushed, low-quality legal defense. We’ve been ringing the alarm because AB 690 would finally put an end to them. Asm. Nick Schultz lays out why reform can’t wait. www.ocregister.com/2025/05/29/n...
Public defenders face deep systemic issues—grueling caseloads, insufficient resources, and low pay. They aren’t the only ones hurt by a broken system. Clients languish behind bars & justice itself takes a hit. www.governing.com/workforce/st...
Staffing and Funding Shortages Persist for Public Defenders
Overloaded with cases, public defenders often cannot give enough time to each client, and defendants may face long waits to get an attorney.
www.governing.com
June 12, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Public defenders face deep systemic issues—grueling caseloads, insufficient resources, and low pay. They aren’t the only ones hurt by a broken system. Clients languish behind bars & justice itself takes a hit. www.governing.com/workforce/st...
With state crackdowns, encampment sweeps, and increased felony charges under laws like Proposition 36, thousands of Californians, especially low-income Black and Brown communities, are left without legal representation. The Fair Representation Act (AB 690) could be a turning point. Read more below.
California Criticized for Inadequate Funding of Indigent Defense in Justice System - Davis Vanguard
AB 690, a bill introduced by Assemblymember Nick Schultz, aims to ban flat-fee contracts for indigent defense and establish statewide standards for counties that contract out public defense services, ...
davisvanguard.org
May 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM
With state crackdowns, encampment sweeps, and increased felony charges under laws like Proposition 36, thousands of Californians, especially low-income Black and Brown communities, are left without legal representation. The Fair Representation Act (AB 690) could be a turning point. Read more below.
Couldn’t attend our briefing last week? Our speakers made it clear: Flat-fee contracts hurt not just clients but entire communities here in California. The Fair Representation Act offers a clear path forward in safeguarding liberty and improving public safety. Watch: zoom.us/rec/play/yl9...
May 13, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Couldn’t attend our briefing last week? Our speakers made it clear: Flat-fee contracts hurt not just clients but entire communities here in California. The Fair Representation Act offers a clear path forward in safeguarding liberty and improving public safety. Watch: zoom.us/rec/play/yl9...
🔔TODAY: Our media briefing on California’s crisis in public defense kicks off at 12 PM PST. Join us to learn directly from the experts and the author of AB 690.
✅Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
✅Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Safeguarding Liberty: Protecting California's Public Defense System. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Safeguarding Liberty: Protecting California's Public Defense System. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
zoom.us
May 7, 2025 at 2:18 PM
🔔TODAY: Our media briefing on California’s crisis in public defense kicks off at 12 PM PST. Join us to learn directly from the experts and the author of AB 690.
✅Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
✅Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...