Next Shop Talk: September 24 @ Wrights Barber Shop

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Click here to Download & Share the Event Flyer

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Don’t Miss Our Next Shop Talk Event: Pardon Us [God Did]

WHEN: Saturday, September 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Wright’s Barber Shop, 1901 72nd Avenue

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Join us at Wright’s Barbershop for FREE community resources, support and information to help you navigate our criminal justice system:
  • Adult & Juvenile Criminal Record Expungements
  • Pardon application support for Marijuana Convictions
  • Information on the School-to-Prison Pipeline
  • And more! 

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Click here to Download & Share the Event Flyer

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Defender Association Selected for the Catalyst Grant Program

The Defender Association’s Police Accountability Unit has been selected by Urban Institute & Microsoft for the 2022 Catalyst Grant!

The Defender Association is one of 30 local organizations across the country selected to participate in the Program. With Catalyst Grant funding, the PAU will publish a data dashboard that will empower community members to understand racial disparities in car stops across Philadelphia.

The dashboard, which will be automatically updated with the most current data available, will illustrate the intensity of police activity in neighborhoods across the city and show disparities in police stops by race, gender, and age.

It will help policymakers, legal practitioners, and community members understand patterns in car stops since Philly’s Driving Equality law was enacted, identify policing trends and systemic issues across the city, and challenge the effective legality of racial profiling in car stops.

Click here to learn more about the 2022 Catalyst Grant Program

Expungement Event: July 31

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The Defender is partnering with Cannabis Noire to provide FREE expungements and information as part of the “Summer of Social Justice” series! 

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WHEN: Saturday, July 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: One Art Community Center, 1431 N. 52nd Street

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All are welcome to join us for FREE criminal record expungements, educational workshops about how our justice system works, and MORE! 

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Expungement Event: July 23

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The Defender is partnering with Cannabis Noire to provide FREE expungements and information as part of the “Summer of Social Justice” series! 

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WHEN: Saturday, July 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Discovery Center in Fairmount Park – 3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia

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All are welcome to join us for FREE criminal record expungements, educational workshops about how our justice system works, and MORE! 

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Chief Defender Celebrates Budget Increase with City Council Members

PHILADELPHIA–Chief Defender Keisha Hudson was joined today by Councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson (Second District) and Maria Quiñones-Sanchez (Seventh District) for a press conference to celebrate the Defender Association’s $5.8 million budget increase in the new City of Philadelphia’s Fiscal Year 2023 Operating Budget, which started July 1. All of the funds from the budget increase will be used to raise salaries for Defender attorneys and non-attorney staff. 

“We want to take this opportunity to thank City Council, particularly Councilmembers Johnson and Quiñones-Sanchez, for making this increase a reality,” said Hudson.

Hudson credited Councilmember Johnson for helping to secure much-needed City Council support for the increase. “At a time when we weren’t sure exactly how much City Council support we had for our budget increase,” she said, “It was Councilmember Johnson who took the lead in writing a support letter to the Mayor that was signed by 12 other members of City Council.”

Councilmember Johnson said his efforts to help secure the $5.8 million increase in funding were necessary to “guarantee a defendant’s right to effective assistance of counsel in order to increase the fairness and likelihood of justice ultimately being reached in a criminal justice system.”

 “Our public defenders experienced unprecedented challenges throughout the past few years during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Johnson continued, “They have acted as first responders and continued to advocate for their defendants while putting their own lives at risk, never resting in the defense of their clients.” 

Hudson also thanked Quiñones-Sanchez for her public statements in support of increased funding for the Defender Association, saying, “Councilmember Quiñones-Sanchez was one of the leaders who publicly called for us to receive more funding at a time when advocating for defendants isn’t the most popular stance to take. But she and others understand that an unbalanced justice system is not only unfair, but ineffective at bringing meaningful public safety to our city.”

Lauren Farrell is Deputy Director for Region 9 of the United Auto Workers, the union who represents attorneys at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Farrell heralded the budget increase as a positive development as the Defender Association negotiates the first collective bargaining agreement with its attorneys. 

“Attorneys in the Philadelphia Public Defender’s office formed their union with the UAW to make positive changes in the office in order to better serve their clients,” she said, “The increase to the budget allows them to achieve a fair, equitable contract with living wages that will promote longevity within the office, and ultimately aid in the quality of representation for the indigent of our city. “

Legal Clerk Dharuba Cherry, who has been with the Defender Association since 1990, said the increase represents an acknowledgement of the important work done by attorneys and non-attorneys alike. 

“With or without a raise, I would still be a Defender for life,” Cherry said, “But knowing that our work is appreciated by our city leaders makes me even more proud and committed to the Defender Association.”

All of the participants in today’s press conference agreed that, while the budget increase is something to celebrate, more state funding is needed to ensure that public defenders across the Commonwealth have adequate resources.

“Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that provides zero state funding for indigent defense and that forces local governments to pick up the tab,” said Johnson, “Every year, our city operating budget should reflect important values and fight for those most in need.”

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Keisha Hudson on the Defender’s 2023 Budget Increase

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City Council passed 2023 budget, which includes an additional $5.8 million for the Defender Association

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]PHILADELPHIA–“On behalf of the attorneys, staff and board of Defender Association of Philadelphia, I am extremely thrilled and grateful to City Council for voting on a budget that includes a $5.8 million increase to Philly’s public defenders. 

“Pay equity for our attorneys and non-attorney staff has been my priority since becoming Chief Defender. Looking at the criminal justice landscape during a time of crisis, it is imperative that the Defender is able to recruit and retain the lawyers, social workers and admin staff that keep our system moving. It is extremely gratifying to know that our calls for pay equity with other city agencies were heard by City Council. 

“I want to thank councilmembers Kenyatta Johnson and Maria Quiñones Sanchez for being the primary champions of our campaign to secure the additional funding, as well as the rest of City Council for their support. We also need to thank the dozens of community allies, activists, and family members of clients who lifted up our message on social media, testified, or called City Hall to advocate for more funding for our office. And finally, thanks to every Defender Association employee for sharing their stories and pictures, believing in and supporting our #FundPhillyDefenders campaign from the very beginning. 

“Even without the additional funding, the Defender Association would have continued on our mission to provide high-quality legal representation to our clients, and work with Philly’s community leaders to make a fairer, more efficient justice system. But this budget increase will help us to hold on to our experienced team members and attract the best new talent to our organization. We are optimistic about the future of public defense in Philadelphia.”

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May 24: Keisha Hudson’s PA Senate Testimony

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On May 24, 2022, Chief Defender Keisha Hudson testified before the PA Senate Judiciary Committee about juvenile justice legislation, as a result of the recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Task Force.

Her remarks to the Senate are below. You can also click here to download the full written testimony submitted for the record. 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1653325378981{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Thank you Madam Chair and esteemed members of the committee for inviting me to speak today.

Frederick Douglas once said that it is easier to build strong children than to heal broken men.

In my experience with the public defender offices in Philadelphia and Montgomery county, our current justice system is ill equipped to do either.

But if we implement the 35 specific recommendations made by the Juvenile Justice Task Force, we can change that – and help Pennsylvania build a safer, fairer, more efficient system of justice for young people.

The biggest obstacle to achieving a safe, fair, and efficient system of youth justice is under-resourced public defender offices.

Without robust representation by highly skilled and well-resourced attorneys, even the most progressive legislative reforms will be insufficient to create the changes we hope for.

As I’m sure Ms. Jacobson from PDAP will discuss, Pennsylvania is the only state that provides no state funding for its public defender offices. I’ve outlined my concerns with SB 1229 in my written testimony and encourage the committee to establish a baseline level of financial resources to ensure children across the Commonwealth have equal access to counsel.

Many of the other reforms proposed by the Task Force, which we hope to see introduced into legislation, will also enable public defender offices throughout the Commonwealth to use limited system resources more efficiently.

For example, we know that most young people outgrow the behaviors that first led to their justice system involvement. But continued and excessive entanglement with the courts actually interferes with normal adolescent development and drives many of our kids further into the system.

That’s why we need to expand and standardize opportunities for diversion and informal adjustment – so we are being more thoughtful about what children and behaviors actually warrant a harrowing and expensive justice system response.

This approach protects children and their families from unnecessary harms, expenses, and stress on the family unit.

It also reserves limited resources within defender offices and the courts for circumstances that actually require a more formal response.

For those children who require a more formal response, removal from their homes and communities should be the last resort.

Unfortunately, in Philadelphia, children serving probation for non-violent behaviors are too frequently sentenced to placements for technical violations of their probation – things like not following rules or coming home. It is devastating to families. It is also expensive. And it disproportionately impacts children of color – with 96% of the children sentenced to placements

I also must urge this committee to commit to introducing legislation that will require that all charges filed against young people to be handled in family court.

Current law prohibits the Commonwealth from filing charges in family court when a young person aged 15 or older is alleged to have committed one of a list of enumerated charges, and either has a prior history of delinquency or uses a weapon.

The Commonwealth has no discretion and in those circumstances the cases must be filed in adult criminal court. The young people, and their attorneys, must then present evidence to the court as to why they should be treated as kids.

The majority of these cases (60%) are dismissed, withdrawn, or returned to family court. But at great cost to children, their families, and taxpayers.

Initiating cases in family court will not prevent the Commonwealth from seeking adult prosecution, when appropriate. But it will create a more efficient process – requiring the Commonwealth to review the cases thoroughly on the front end and enabling specially trained family court judges to determine whether the court should relinquish jurisdiction to the adult system.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1653325425370{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #0061b9 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the leaders of Philadelphia’s Youth Participatory Defense Hub is all too familiar with this process.  Her name is My Lee and she is 22 years old.

This is her story (watch the video below to hear My’s story in her own words and voice)[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/RxjGWcmu4bE”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Letter: City Council Support for Budget Increase

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Thanks to City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson for putting together this letter in support of the Defender’s request for a $5.8 million budget increase. Also thanks to the 12 additional Councilmembers who signed the letter: 

  • Jamie Gauthier (3rd District)
  • Maria Quinones-Sanchez (7th District)
  • Isaiah Thomas (At Large)
  • Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District)
  • Mark Squilla (1st District)
  • Helen Gym (At Large)
  • Cindy Bass (8th District)
  • Cherrelle Parker (9th District)
  • Derek Greene (At Large)
  • Allan Domb (At Large)
  • Kendra Brooks (At Large)
  • Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At Large)

Read the full text of the letter below, or download it here[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1651849253008{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Full text of the letter from City Council:

Mayor James F. Kenney 
City of Philadelphia

Re: The Defender Association of Philadelphia FY23 budget increase

Dear Mayor Kenney,

We believe that the FY23 budget should include a $5.8 million increase for the Defender Association of Philadelphia. The Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant’s right to effective assistance of counsel in order to increase the fairness and likelihood of justice ultimately being reached in a criminal justice system. Our public defenders experienced unprecedented challenges throughout the past few years during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have acted as first responders and continued to advocate for their defendants while putting their own lives at risk, never resting in the defense of their clients.

The Defender Association is asking for a $5.8 million budget increase that would allow the ability to pay their non-legal staff a living wage and would allow them to attract and retain well qualified attorneys. $3.8 million would be allocated for salary increases for the non-attorney and administrative staff. Currently 45% of the non-legal staff earn less than $40,000, which leaves many having to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. The proposal would allow for a salary increase to a livable wage of $40,000, which is in line with the pay of other comparable cities.  

The remaining $2 million would be allocated for increased pay for attorneys to allow the Defender’s Association to become more competitive with their hiring. Private legal employers aggressively recruit with salary increases and signing bonuses, which increases the difficulty of recruitment. There is also a struggle to competitively recruit applicants from the same pool as the District Attorney’s office is due to the fact that the Defenders Association is only able to offer 89 cents to their dollar. The proposed increases in pay are beneficial retention strategies that would allow for hardworking staff and attorneys to be fairly compensated and would allow the Defender’s Association to continue to hire qualified individuals.

Pennsylvania is the only state that doesn’t provide state funding for public defenders, making the funding we provide vital for many Philadelphians who find themselves enmeshed with the criminal justice system. A lack of resources can lead to an unfair fight and leaves low-income defendants who are represented by overburdened public defenders more likely to be wrongfully convicted or receive longer sentences.

As a city, if we truly believe that Black Lives Matter then we should have a budget that reflects those values and fights for those most in need. We believe that the Defender Association of Philadelphia should receive a $5.8 million increase in their FY23 budget so that they can continue working to protect our citizen’s constitutional rights.

 

Yours sincerely,[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1651849243274{margin-top: 20px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District)

Jamie Gauthier (3rd District)

Maria Quinones-Sanchez (7th District)

Isaiah Thomas (At Large)

Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District)

Mark Squilla (1st District)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Helen Gym (At Large)

Cindy Bass (8th District)

Cherrelle Parker (9th District)

Derek Greene (At Large)

Allan Domb (At Large)

Kendra Brooks (At Large)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Next Shop Talk: May 6, 2022

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WHEN: Friday, May 6 from 2-6 p.m.

WHERE: Glocawear Radio/The Gloc Shop, 4933 Old York Road

We’re teaming up with Philly’s #1 internet radio station and our community partners for our next Shop Talk event, featuring: 

Expungement Clinics

Community voices: Open criminal justice system discussion

Trainings and workshops

FREE food from Victoria’s Kitchen

Music playlist by Tucann

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1651234765381{margin-top: 30px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #58cbbd !important;}”][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Next Shop Talk: April 20, 2022

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Join us from 3-6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20 at
Mike’s Raw Cutz, 5640 Chew Avenue

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1649427656111{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #c0eefd !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’re back and in-person to provide the community with FREE legal workshops and information:

  • “Know Your Rights: What to do When You Come Into Contact with Law Enforcement” 
  • “Expungement: What is it, and How Will it Impact Me?”
  • “Know Your Statutes: PWID – Possession with Intent to Distribute”

Plus:

  • Information and giveaways from our community partners
  • FREE food from Victoria’s Kitchen! 

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1649427937679{margin-top: 20px !important;background-color: #263797 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]For more information, contact Guy Lang: glang@philadefender.org[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Follow us: @PhillyDefenders