NAPD 2024 Women's Virtual Conference

This presentation will discuss the experiences and needs of justice-impacted Black women and girls and explore how an intersectional, gender-sensitive lens is critical to their defense. Black women and girls are disproportionately overrepresented among women and girls who are arrested and come in contact with the juvenile and criminal legal systems. Moreover, most of these women have long trauma histories and are survivors of sexual violence, including assault, abuse, and exploitation. Together, we will explore how race and gender bias construct unique vulnerabilities that heighten Black women's and girls' risk of criminalization and harsh punishment and how public defenders can more effectively address and support the needs of these clients.

In an era where understanding the nuanced experiences of marginalized communities is crucial, Haydeh Takasugi and Graciela Martinez offer an insightful exploration into the intersectional experiences of immigrant indigent defenders. Their presentation will delve into how their immigrant backgrounds have profoundly shaped their perceptions and practices within the California criminal legal system.

This presentation will touch on legal developments across the country since the Supreme Court overturned the right to terminate a pregnancy in 2022 in the Dobbs decision. We will discuss constitutional protections for abortion rights, "shield" laws, health information privacy laws, travel bans, and their possible implications for criminal defense work.

"Attorneys now have 45 times more discovery material to review than they did in 2016…." -- Megan Ring, State Public Defender, CO (Colorado Sun, Feb 2024)

This overwhelming increase in discovery comes from the massive increase in digital evidence, including police dashboard and body camera footage, and is having an immense impact on public defense workloads.

This talk by Reduct Video explores how software and AI can help public defenders cut through the massive influx of body-worn camera footage, 911 calls, jail calls, interrogation recordings, and more, so you can hone in on relevant evidence. Fast, timestamped transcription, synced translations, and easy text-based video clipping for court are just a few of the tools that will be included in the demonstration. Reduct also allows you to simultaneously view multiple body-worn camera videos from the same event, enabling you to examine the evidence from all angles. Come chat about how your office is working through audio / video discovery, and see how software and AI can assist you with the process.