Category: Press Release

Keisha Hudson on Passage of Prison Oversight Bill

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA—“The Defender Association of Philadelphia applauds City Council–in particular, bill sponsors Isaiah Thomas and Nicolas O’Rourke–for the unanimous passage of prison oversight legislation. This bill represents a crucial step toward accountability and transparency in Philadelphia’s jails. 

 

“Managing over 4,000 individuals in secure facilities is a monumental task that requires effective oversight and community partnership. This legislation is an important first step toward building trust and ensuring the City’s correctional system is accountable for the safety of prison employees and incarcerated people.

 

“The passage of this bill is a pivotal moment for reform, but to be effective, every system stakeholder must collaborate on the implementation of this legislation and other solutions to the systemic challenges within our jails. The Defender Association remains committed to collaborating with justice system partners to create meaningful and lasting change.”

 

 

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Hon. Judge Lydia Kirkland Joins Defender Board

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA–The Defender Association of Philadelphia is proud to announce that the Honorable Judge Lydia Y. Kirkland, a distinguished member of Philadelphia’s legal community, has joined our Board of Directors. Judge Kirkland brings with her over 30 years of experience as a Municipal Court Judge, including her tenure as Supervising Judge of the Criminal Division, where she championed innovative approaches to justice and rehabilitation.

 

“We are honored and excited to have Judge Kirkland join the Board of Directors of the Defender Association of Philadelphia,” said Defender Board President Paul Hetznecker, “Judge Kirkland served the cause of justice during her three decades on the bench, while at the time serving as a mentor to the countless litigants, public defenders, assistant district attorneys and private lawyers who appeared before her. I am grateful that Judge Kirkland’s experience and knowledge will be in service of our mission as we move into the future.”

 

Throughout her career, Judge Kirkland has been a trailblazer in promoting alternatives to incarceration, creating programs that address the root causes of criminal behavior and prioritize treatment and support. Her forward-thinking leadership exemplifies the kind of systemic reform the Defender Association seeks to advance.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Judge Kirkland to the Board” said Chief Defender Keisha Hudson. “Her decades of experience, knowledge of our court system, and leadership in pioneering alternatives to incarceration will be invaluable as we continue our fight for equity and justice.”

 

Judge Kirkland’s addition to the board represents a continued commitment by the Defender Association to draw on diverse expertise in our mission to advance justice and improve outcomes for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents. 

 

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Philly Defenders Secure Safe Release of 100 Clients

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

The milestone is a testament to the power of a collaborative approach to reducing Philly's jail population. 

 

PHILADELPHIA—In response to the dangerous conditions caused by severe staffing shortages in Philadelphia’s jails, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, in collaboration with the First Judicial District and the District Attorney’s Office, has successfully secured the safe release of 100 incarcerated people. This initiative, part of a series of Emergency Bail Hearings led by Judge Karen Simmons, aims to reduce the jail population while maintaining public safety.

 

The Emergency Bail Hearings began on October 1, with additional sessions scheduled in the coming weeks. These hearings prioritize cases involving individuals who can be released pre-trial without posing a threat to public safety. Attorneys from the Defender Association, including Chief Defender Keisha Hudson, First Assistant Defender Sarah Allen, Deputy Defender Stephanie Fennell, Andrew Pappas, and Tom Innes, worked closely with the Courts and the District Attorney’s Office to identify eligible clients.

 

“Reducing the jail population during this crisis is a crucial step in safeguarding both the rights of the incarcerated and the efficiency of our justice system,” said Hudson. “The success of these hearings shows the power of the collaborative approach we’ve been pushing for throughout the staffing crisis on State Road.”

 

Hudson added that the Defender Association is dedicated to continuing these efforts, working with City leaders and other advocates to secure additional releases and address the broader challenges facing Philadelphia’s jails. “This is an important milestone, but there is still much work to be done to ensure that we uphold fairness, accountability, and public safety for every citizen of Philadelphia.”

 

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Keisha Hudson on Prison Oversight Bill

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA—“The Defender Association commends Councilmembers Isaiah Thomas and Nicolas O’Rourke, as well as all the co-sponsors (Council President Johnson, and Councilmembers Ahmad, Bass, Brooks, Driscoll, Gauthier, Harrity, Jones, Landau, Lozada, O’Neill, Phillips, Squilla, and Young) for their leadership in introducing an amendment to create a new Philadelphia Prison Community Oversight Board and Office of Prison Oversight.

 

“This legislation is a strong and crucial first step toward addressing the persistently dangerous conditions in Philly’s jails. We’re hopeful that the new oversight will increase transparency; improve communication between the jails and our office, as well as between the jails and the community; and enhance safety for both incarcerated people and prison staff by reducing the jail population.

 

“This legislation represents a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to public safety that goes beyond law enforcement, arrests and convictions. To that end, we echo the sentiments of Councilmembers Thomas and O’Rourke, who remind us that we have a responsibility to all of our citizens–including those behind bars.” 

 

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Statement: Another Death in Philly Jails

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA–“The ongoing neglect by criminal justice partners to address the horrendous conditions  in Philly’s jails has resulted in the tragic death of Michael McKinnis. The Defender Association is still awaiting full information on the circumstances surrounding his death. For the second time in just ten days, we extend condolences to the family of another victim in the custody of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons.

 

“No guard was assigned to the unit where Mr. McKinnis was housed—an inexcusable but predictable outcome of the well-known guard shortage on State Road. The Defender Association has consistently proposed ways to safely reduce the jail population and ease pressure on the staff. We’ve repeatedly called for collaboration and dialogue to develop solutions to end this crisis.

 

“This crisis requires us to move as quickly and proactively as we did when COVID-19 was spreading through the jails. The time for city leaders to act is overdue. If this lack of urgency continues, more people are going to die in Philly’s jails.”

 

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Helen Gym to Join Defender Board

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA–The Board of Directors of the Defender Association of Philadelphia is proud to announce that Helen Gym will join the Board of Directors as a Community Board member [effective this month]. Helen Gym is a foundation fellow and a former Philadelphia City Councilmember who established right to counsel protections for tenants facing eviction and for immigrants facing deportation.

 

“Helen offers the Board a wealth of experience and insight through her lifelong commitment to social justice,” said Defender Board president Paul Hetznecker, “For the past three decades Helen has been a leader in fighting for immigrant communities, public education and human rights. Her policies uplifted the needs and voices of youth and families, particularly those in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We are very excited to have Helen join our 90-year mission to provide the best representation to the residents of Philadelphia charged with crimes who cannot afford a lawyer.” 

 

“Helen Gym’s record of fighting for marginalized communities in Philadelphia is legendary,” said Chief Defender Keisha Hudson, “Our board will benefit greatly from her leadership experience and vast knowledge of our city.”

 

Defender Association Response to $25 million Prison Settlement

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA–”Although the court’s $25 million civil rights class-action settlement over prison conditions is a significant step, it is unfortunate that it’s taken repeated judicial intervention for the City of Philadelphia to fulfill its obligations. Judge McHugh’s ruling underscores the city’s ongoing failure to address the safety and dignity of incarcerated individuals. The well-being of those in custody in the Philly jails and the employees who work there should never be an afterthought, and we hope this ruling is a catalyst for lasting reform.

 

“We have repeatedly called attention to the inhumane conditions faced by those held in the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. The severe lack of transparency, inadequate staffing, and overcrowded facilities are ultimately a threat to both human rights and public safety. The city’s failure to heed these warnings and take decisive action has left the courts no choice but to step in.

 

“Our office has been advocating for the solutions outlined by Judge McHugh in his order, including assessing the release of low-risk, medically vulnerable individuals. While the order outlines processes to address the understaffing, the jail won’t be able to hire itself out of this crisis. We need to lower the population so that at least the oldest jail can be retired and the staff there reassigned where needed. These measures are critical steps that could significantly ease the burden on staff and improve safety conditions. 

 

“The Defender Association reiterates its call for the city to work in collaboration with every justice system stakeholder, community leaders and advocates to implement changes that prioritize safety, transparency, and accountability within our jails and across the justice system. But to ensure these changes are lasting and meaningful, we need to establish a permanent oversight body that can collaborate with prison administrators to prevent similar crises in the future. 

 

“Those incarcerated on State Road and the prison employees are citizens of Philadelphia. We can’t afford to leave them out of the public safety conversation.”

Statement on Closing of Philly Juvenile Assessment Center

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA–“The Defender Association of Philadelphia is deeply concerned about the proposed plan to permanently close the Juvenile Justice Assessment Center (JAC). This decision represents a significant step backwards in our collective efforts to implement trauma-informed policies for our youth.

 

“By reverting to older methods, we risk exposing children to the traumatic experiences that come with traditional arrest processes. They will be handcuffed and held in facilities that are not designed for them, in the same buildings with adult arrestees. This environment is not only inappropriate but also harmful, as their primary interactions will be with law enforcement officers rather than trained youth advocates.

 

“Closing the JAC means that young people will likely face repeated–and unacceptable–violations of the 6-hour rule, which states that juveniles must not be held in police custody for more than six hours without being charged or released. 

 

“The changes will impose additional training burdens on law enforcement, expecting them to fulfill roles outside their expertise. Creating an environment where families feel confident in accepting their child back home is crucial to preventing unnecessary stays in juvenile detention centers. Police officers, regardless of training, cannot replicate the expertise and approach of social workers dedicated to youth advocacy. They are ill-suited to handle the nuanced needs of young people and their families, including contacting family members, connecting them with community-based services, and ensuring safe transportation home from police stations. 

 

“Philadelphia’s law enforcement has historically struggled to ensure uniform and equitable implementation of diversionary policies. This history casts doubt on the effectiveness and fairness of the proposed changes.

 

“The Defender Association was part of the collaborative stakeholder team during the JAC planning process. However, we have not been included in discussions regarding decentralization, offense review processes, or the potential shift of community connections and resources to DHS-sponsored programs.

 

“We urge city officials to reconsider these changes. We must prioritize trauma-informed practices and the involvement of experienced social workers to truly support our youth and their families.”

 

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The Truth about Police Stops: “Driving Equality Dashboard”

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA–The Defender Association’s Police Accountability Unit (PAU) today announced the launch of its “Driving Equality Dashboard,” a free interactive website to help city residents, elected officials, organizations and the media better understand the “who, where and why” of police traffic stops and vehicle searches in Philadelphia.

 

Made possible through funding from a Microsoft and Urban Institute Catalyst Grant, the dashboard uses Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) data to allow users to track racial disparities in the PPD’s traffic enforcement, examine how traffic stops have changed over time, and learn the history and impact of the Driving Equality legislation passed by City Council and enacted in March 2022.

 

“Since City Council passed Driving Equality, there’s been some confusion about what the law actually says and does,” said the PAU’s Mike Mellon, “Our dashboard explains the law, and uses real-time data to show why it was needed.”

 

In addition to an overview of traffic stops by race, the dashboard lets users do a deeper dive, including learning the reasons police give for stops, exploring traffic stops by police district, and viewing how increases or decreases in stops in Philly neighborhoods correlates with the number of shootings over time.

 

PAU’s Paula Sen hopes citizens and justice system stakeholders will use the dashboard to clear up misperceptions about the Driving Equality law’s impact on public safety, particularly its impact on gun violence. “A lot of opponents of the law say that the police need to pull more people over and search more cars to address neighborhood shootings,” Sen said, “But when you look at the Police Department’s own data, you’ll see there’s little to no correlation between traffic stops and the number of gun crimes.”

 

Chief Defender Keisha Hudson says the Driving Equality Dashboard is an easy-to-use, interactive way for people to educate themselves about who–and why–people get pulled over in Philadelphia. “As public defenders, we know that we can’t simply accept what we’re told by law enforcement officials,” she said, “Our Police Accountability Unit has created an intuitive, comprehensive, and data-driven tool that offers information and transparency to anyone who wants the facts about police stops and the Driving Equality Law.”

 

Check out the Driving Equality Dashboard Here

 

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Defender Association Supports ACLU-PA’s Indigent Defense Lawsuit

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

PHILADELPHIA–The Defender Association of Philadelphia supports ACLU-PA’s lawsuit against Pennsylvania for inadequate state funding for indigent defense. In Gideon v Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that every individual is entitled to legal counsel in court, regardless of ability to pay. But many public defender offices are so underfunded that they can’t provide proper legal representation. This isn’t just about money—it’s about justice and ensuring that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, gets the constitutionally required effective representation.

 

We appreciate Governor Josh Shapiro’s leadership in adding a $7.5 million line item for public defense in the state budget. It’s a positive step, but public defender offices still rely almost entirely on county funding. This creates a system where the quality of defense varies widely depending on where you live, leading to unequal justice.

 

Underfunded public defender offices struggle with overwhelming caseloads and insufficient resources, making it nearly impossible to meet the constitutional mandate for effective counsel. This not only harms those accused of crimes but also erodes trust in our justice system. ACLU-PA’s lawsuit aims to change this by pushing for statewide reform and adequate funding for all public defender offices.

 

We urge Pennsylvania to act now and ensure that every public defender office in the Commonwealth has the resources needed to provide effective representation. We need a justice system that works for every Pennsylvania citizen.

 

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