Libsyn Directory

408 | How Georgia's New "Tough on Crime" Laws Could Make Communities Even Less Safe w/Blake Feldman

Release Date: 10/21/2025

436 | The New York Laws that Could Chip Away at the State's Mass Incarceration Policies w/Thomas Gant

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Thomas Gant, a Community Organizer with the Center for Community Alternatives. Thomas joins the show to describe three different bills pending in New York that could chip away at the impacts of mass incarceration. Guest: Thomas Gant, Community Organizer, Center for Community Alternatives Resources: Email Thomas Join the Coalition here Contact Hunter...

435 | How Alaska is Punishing American Samoans for Believing They Had the Right to Vote w/Alex Burness

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Alex Burness of Bolts Magazine to discuss his recent piece of reporting on American Samoans in Alaska. Specifically, Alex walks us through the history that gave American Samoans passports, social security numbers, but no right to vote. From there, Alex tells the story of a small American Samoan community that is facing decades in prison for voting when everyone thought they had the right to. Guest: Alex Burness, Staff Writer, Bolts Magazine Resources: Read the Piece Here Contact Alex Contact Hunter...

434 | Why is a San Francisco Judge Threatening to hold the Public Defender in Contempt? w/Mano Raju

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Mano Raju, the elected Chief Public Defender in the San Francisco Public Defender Office. Last time he was one the show, Mano explained why he decided to stop having his attorneys accept new case assignments on certain days of the week. Now, six months later, a judge has given the office an ultimatum: Accept new cases or be held in contempt. Guest: Mano Raju, Chief Public Defender, San Francisco, California Resources: Read the Order Coverage of the Office Contact Mano or the Office ...

433 | How Pre-Trial Mitigation Can Save People From Incarceration w/Max Miner

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Max Miner the Founder of Executive Treatment Solutions. At one point in his life, Max hit rock bottom. Suffering with drug addiction, he reached the point where it thought it would be a good idea to get into a shootout with police officers. In a moment of clarity, he put down the weapon and started his road to recovery. Thanks to the work of an attorney who understood the power of pre-trial mitigation work, Max was able to get sober and avoid jail time. Now, Max works with people, who like him, need non-carceral treatment plans to help them escape the criminal...

432 | How the Denver Municipal Public Defenders Interrupt the Punishment of Poverty w/Alex Flood and Dan Fitzgerald

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Alex Flood and Dan Fitzgerald of the Denver Municipal Public Defender Office. Today’s episode focuses on the holistic public defender model in the office that leans on the expertise of lawyers, social workers, and system impacted people to combat the City’s efforts to punish poverty. Guest: Alex Flood, Public Defender, Denver Municipal Public Defender Office Dan Fiztgerald, Peer Support Specialist, Denver Municipal Public Defender Office Resources: Contact the Office Contact Hunter...

431 | Lessons Learned from Public Defender Offices Trying to Implement Workload Standards w/Jessie Lenhardt

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Jessie Lenhardt, a Management Consultant with Moss Adams. In her time as a consultant, Jessie has helped countless government agencies, including public defenders, improve the organization structures and practices. Today, she joins the show to discuss on her reflections in helping public defender offices implement workload studies. Guest: Jessie Lenhardt, Senior Manager, Moss Adams Resources: Contact Jessie Here Contact Hunter...

430 | How Las Vegas Casinos Got a Special Court that Allows them to Punish Poverty on the Las Vegas Strip w/Dallas Anselmo and Olivia Miller

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Olivia Miller and Dallas Anselmo of the Clark County Public Defender Office. They joined to discuss the “corridor court” operating along the Las Vegas Strip. This specialty court, created at the urging of the casinos and resorts, funnels criminal defendants into a singular court room where people can be effectively banished from the entirety of the strip for seemingly minor crimes. In doing so, the corridor court gives casinos the power to unfairly police poverty along the strip. As a note, the views expressed on today’s show by Olivia and Dallas are...

2025 Wrap Up

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter wraps up 2025 with one last episode! Guest: Resources: Top 10 Episodes of 2025 334 | Was a Former Colorado Public Defender Fired for Raising Concerns over his Workload? w/Travis Weiner 335 | How Sec Def Austin Interfered with the 9/11 and U.S.S. Cole Case Plea Deals w/Allison Miller and Katie Carmon 336 | How the San Mateo Private Defender Program is Trying to Earn Back the Community's Trust w/Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra 328 | How the Laken Riley Act Could Get Innocent People Sent to Guantanamo Bay w/Ann Block and Nithya Nathan-Pineau 331 | How the Far West Texas Public...

429 | How Technology Can Improve Public Defense in and out of the Courtroom w/Mohammed Al Rawi and Ryan Wolfe

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Mohammed Al Rawi and Ryan Wolfe of ZLS.App. The three discussed how ZLS is helping public defenders improve case management with automated systems. With better case management systems, public defenders are better equipped to collect and track the data that public defenders need to justify their requests to the legislatures. Guest: Mohammed Al Rawi, Co-Founder. ZLS.app Ryan Wolfe, Co-Founder, ZLS.app Resources: Find ZLS Here Contact Hunter...

428 | How Will New Leadership Handle Missouri Public Defender's Low Pay and the State's Mental Health Resource Crisis w/Matthew Crowell

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by the new Chief Public Defender for the state of Missouri, Matthew Crowell. Matthew and Hunter discussed a range of topics that Matthew is now facing as the Chief and how he hopes to tackle them. Guest: Matthew Crowell, Chief Public Defender, Missouri Resources: Contact the Missouri Public Defender Here Lawsuit Contact Hunter...

More Episodes

Today, Hunter was joined by the Southern Center for Human Right’s Blake Feldman. Hunter and Blake walked through a handful of criminal legal policy changes that recently went into effect in Georgia. Unfortunately, the state continues it’s tough on crime approach that may ultimately lead to more kids in adult court, more adults serving mandatory minimums, and the state further trying to incarcerate it’s way out of societal issues.

Guest:

Blake Feldman, Senior Policy Counsel, Southern Center for Human Rights

Resources:

Southern Center for Human Rights

https://www.schr.org/

https://www.facebook.com/southerncenterforhumanrights/

https://x.com/southerncenter

https://www.instagram.com/thesoutherncenter

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCApuQiMnBpcuxt-GWx9eF1A

https://www.linkedin.com/company/thesoutherncenter/

Contact Hunter Parnell:

Publicdefenseless@gmail.com