Thousands of people are in prison due to a law the State Supreme Court found unconstitutional. Now, attorneys are trying to address the harms of these wrongful convictions.
DPD started its post-conviction unit earlier this year. Already, its three part-time attorneys have seen 200 people, helping many of them extinguish thousands of dollars in crippling LFOs and wipe old convictions from their records.
DPD Director Anita Khandelwal voices concerns about the proposals put forward by a regional working group seeking to address the issues that cause people to cycle through the criminal legal system.
Seattle Public Library started its new “Read to Me!” program after librarians realized how many parents were incarcerated in the King County jail, just a few blocks away from the downtown branch.
A new video spotlights the resilience and strength of parents who were reunited with their children after CPS intervened. One mother says her message to others is “a message of hope — that no matter what your situation, you’re just as eligible as anyone else to get your child back.”
DPD’s defense team fought aggressively for their client, arguing that the state had charged an innocent man. They were successful; in March, he was acquitted. The team and the client continue to stay in touch, sharing a bond forged from that experience
DPD’s 20 interns wrap up a robust 10-week program, where they got a chance to learn, grow, and find their voice in the fight for justice.
Emanuel Fair sat in jail for nearly nine years before he was acquitted of a murder charge in June. Ben Goldsmith and Katharine Edwards fought hard to make it happen.
What should you do if you’re stopped by the police? Three youth in King County share an important message.
Criminal records hinder a person’s ability to get a job, secure housing, obtain benefits and more. The Department of Public Defense’s new post-conviction relief unit will help people rebuild their lives by vacating convictions and expunging records as allowed under state law.
A Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) policy permitting a judge to hold certain defendants in jail more than one business day before a preliminary appearance was struck down yesterday in a significant win for criminal defendants.
Maureen McKee, a public defender for the past 16 years, is the newest King County Superior Court judge. Many expect she’ll bring a commitment to equal justice and a passion for the rights of those less fortunate to the bench.
Thanks to a pilot project funded by the City of Seattle, the Department of Public Defense is now able to address the civil consequences of a criminal conviction or arrest.
County Councilman Dave Upthegrove has drafted a motion that would forbid law enforcement from questioning a young person detained in the juvenile detention center without an attorney present. DPD thinks it’s high time.
Sadé Smith and Matthew Sanders enter a program that’s not only a feather in their cap but also a way to do even more on behalf of clients and in support of their colleagues.
