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Artwork for Public Defenseless

Public Defenseless

Hunter Parnell
Indigent Defense
Criminal Justice Reform
Death Penalty
Public Defender Offices
Texas
Public Defenders
Due Process
Criminal Justice System
Operation Lone Star
Nikolas Cruz
Mississippi Criminal Justice System
Public Defense
Local Control
Grassroots Movements
Texas Indigent Defense Commission
Operation Streamline
Racial Bias
Mental Health Systems
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Capital Defense

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from acr... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes468Founded4 years ago
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Artwork for Public Defenseless

Latest Episodes

Today, Hunter was joined by two members of Washington's Family Defense Team, Brett Ballew and Tonia McClanahan. As we did on Tuesday, the show explores the ways Public Defense can and should expand to include family defense. This time, Hunter and his... more

Today, Hunter was joined by Mary Anne Mendenhall, the Director of Family Defense Initiatives with Partners for Justice. On previous episodes, Hunter has explored the dire need for Public Defense to expand its services to include family defenders. Tod... more

Today, Hunter was joined by Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst with the ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project. With more than 20 years of experience, Jay brings a comprehensive understanding of why and how mass surveillance technology is spr... more

Today, Hunter was joined by Dalourny Nemorin, a public defender with the Legal Aid Society and candidate for NY's 15th Congressional District. Dalourny joins the show to discuss her candidacy, why she is running, and how her background as a public de... more

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Recent Guests

Frayla Tarpinian
Executive Director, Maine Commission on Public Defender Services
Maine Commission on Public Defender Services
Episode: 452 | With a Budget Shortfall Looming, What Comes Next for Maine Public Defense w/Frayla Tarpinian
Kyle Giddings
Deputy Director, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition
Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition
Episode: 451 | How the Tough on Crime Lobby Influences Colorado Criminal Justice Policy w/Kyle Giddings and Rebecca Wallace
René Ropac
Senior Research Associate with the Data Collaborative for Justice.
Data Collaborative for Justice
Episode: 450 | How Has New York's Bail Reform Laws Impacted Public Safety? w/Rene Ropac
Brandon Garcia
Policy aide for City Council President Elliot Payne in the Minneapolis City Council
Minneapolis City Council
Episode: 449 | How the People of Minneapolis Organized to Resist ICE, CBP, and DHS w/Brandon Garcia, Maggie Bott, and Bob Kolstad
Matthew Guariglia
Historian, scholar, and author of Police in the Empire City
Episode: 448 | How the History of the New York Police Department Reveals the Essential Problems with Policing w/Matthew Guariglia
Stacey Lowe
Executive Director of the Southwest Oregon Public Defender Services, Inc.
Southwest Oregon Public Defender Services, Inc.
Episode: 447 | Why did an Oregon Public Defender Sue the Oregon Public Defense Commission? Part 2 w/Stacey Lowe
Shannon Wilson
Executive Director of the Public Defender of Marion County
Public Defender of Marion County
Episode: 446 | Why did an Oregon Public Defender Sue the Oregon Public Defense Commission? Part 1 w/Shannon Wilson and Stephen Hanlon
Emily Galvin Almanza
Co-founder and Executive Director of Partners for Justice, and author of The Price of Mercy
Partners for Justice
Episode: 445 | How We Can Improve Public Safety with Mercy and Compassion w/Emily Galvin Almanza
Judyanne Vallado
Chief Public Defender in San Joaquin County, California.
San Joaquin County Public Defender's Office
Episode: 443 | Will San Joaquin County Public Defenders be the Next Office to Stop Taking New Cases? w/Judyanne Vallado

Host

Hunter Parnell
Host of Public Defenseless; focuses on criminal justice reform and public defense issues; aims to surface practical solutions.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 191 ratings
  • Great show.

    Keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PJ Barker
    United States5 months ago
  • Exposes Criminal Abuses

    Public Defenseless details how the presumption of innocence is fiction in courtrooms across the country.

    While we supposedly have the right to a trial by a jury of our peers, defendants who are largely Black and Latino men, are compelled to take pleas or face lengthy, painful incarceration.

    The American justice system as revealed by Public Defenseless is so deeply broken and must be reformed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rachelm1972
    United Statesa year ago
  • Shedding Light Where It Needs to Be Shed

    As a former Colorado public defender (and still indigent criminal defense attorney), I’m biased in favor of the excellent coverage of issues in Colorado, including the crisis in our state public defender system and the horrors unfolding in municipal courts.

    But I also love every episode from elsewhere in the country. It’s so easy for us to be in our silos and forget that there are hundreds of other offices out there facing similar challenges and coming up with innovative solutions. This podcast... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    drewmm10
    United Statesa year ago
  • Thank you

    I am a chief public defender and this podcast has been extremely helpful to me. Well done

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nickiedenises
    United States2 years ago
  • Lawyer Hanlon

    Required listening for anyone interested in America’s criminal processing system.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steve Hanlon
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful, rigorous coverage of public defense and reform.
Covers underreported issues with real-world impact.
Listeners appreciate the practical takeaways and guest expertise.
Strong advocacy voice with credible, evidence-based discussion.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#120
United States/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

447 | Why did an Oregon Public Defender Sue the Oregon Public Defense Commission? Part 2 w/Stacey Lowe
Q: What led you to join the lawsuit against the Oregon Public Defense Commission?
I felt there was no choice but to take action due to the new contract requirements that risked funding and the ability to support new attorneys in my office.
448 | How the History of the New York Police Department Reveals the Essential Problems with Policing w/Matthew Guariglia
Q: Why did you choose to write specifically about the New York Police Department?
Because New York synthesizes policing tactics and has been a model for other cities, reflecting the historical evolution of policing practices.
448 | How the History of the New York Police Department Reveals the Essential Problems with Policing w/Matthew Guariglia
Q: What has brought you to your interest in this topic?
My interest lies in the history of surveillance and policing, and how societal changes have shaped these systems.
445 | How We Can Improve Public Safety with Mercy and Compassion w/Emily Galvin Almanza
Q: How do you think public defenders should utilize their stories in the current environment?
Public defenders should collaborate with clients to tell their stories and bring them to lawmakers to advocate for change in the legal system.
445 | How We Can Improve Public Safety with Mercy and Compassion w/Emily Galvin Almanza
Q: What was your thought process in deciding how to structure your book?
I wanted to put together what I think is most important for laypeople to know about the criminal legal system, starting before arrest and continuing through to re-entry.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Public Defenseless

What is Public Defenseless about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A hard-hitting show about criminal justice and public defense, highlighting systemic underfunding, policy reform, and the real-world impact of legal processes. Episodes frequently feature public defenders, policy advocates, researchers, and historians who dissect bail reform, mass surveillance, prosecutorial practices, and immigrant enforcement, often emphasizing practical reforms and advocacy. A standout trait is the host's focus on actionable solutions and coalition-building, making it a strong pick for listeners who want deep policy context, real-case implications, and opportunities to engage in reform conversations.

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Which podcasts are similar to Public Defenseless?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Public Defenseless:

1. The NPR Politics Podcast
2. Consider This from NPR
3. What A Day
4. Throughline
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Public Defenseless are there?

Public Defenseless launched 4 years ago and published 468 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Public Defenseless?

Recent guests on Public Defenseless include:

1. Frayla Tarpinian
2. Kyle Giddings
3. René Ropac
4. Brandon Garcia
5. Matthew Guariglia
6. Stacey Lowe
7. Shannon Wilson
8. Emily Galvin Almanza

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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