Public Defenseless

Hunter Parnell

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 across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of you, Hunter is not an attorney, simply tired of a news cycle and talking heads that offer no real solutions to the ever-growing list of problems we face. Hunter hopes that with this information, you will share his belief that ordinary people still can make a difference.

  1. 462 | How Restorative Justice Could Transform What Public Safety Looks Like w/Amanda Carrasco

    2 DAYS AGO

    462 | How Restorative Justice Could Transform What Public Safety Looks Like w/Amanda Carrasco

    Today, Hunter was joined by Amanda Carrasco a restorative justice advocate and author of Becoming the Brave One. Throughout her life, Amanda has dealt with tremendous trauma from surviving multiple sexual assaults and the murder of her close family friends. Despite those experiences, Amanda is a champion for different approaches to the criminal legal system in the form of restorative justice practices.     Guest: Amanda Carrasco, Author and Advocate for Restorative Justice Practices   Resources: Find Amanda's work and Book Here https://amandacarrasco.com/   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    1hr 2min
  2. 461 | How to Empower Social Workers in Public Defender Offices w/Kay Edwards

    5 DAYS AGO

    461 | How to Empower Social Workers in Public Defender Offices w/Kay Edwards

    Today, Hunter was joined by Kay Edwards from the Far West Texas Regional Public Defender Office. There, Kay is the Mental Health Supervisor and she joins the show to discuss how her office has implemented a new organizational structure and way of thinking that empowers social workers to take more active roles in cases.     Guest: Kay Edwards, Mental Health Supervisor, Far West Texas Public Defender   Resources: NAPD Social Workers https://publicdefenders.us/audiences/social-worker/ Contact the office or Kay https://www.farwesttxrpd.org/ kay@farwesttxrpd.org     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    59 min
  3. 460 | How California's Failure to Fund Public Defense is Hurting Everyone w/Tracie Olson

    26 MAR

    460 | How California's Failure to Fund Public Defense is Hurting Everyone w/Tracie Olson

    Today, Hunter was joined once again by Tracie Olson the Chief Public Defender of the Yolo County Public Defender Office. Tracie joins to discuss the recent Deason Center report about the dramatic underfunding of Public Defense in California and the impacts of Prop 36 on her community.     Guest: Tracie Olson, Chief Public Defender, Yolo County, California   Resources: Read the Report Here https://scholar.smu.edu/deasoncenter/19/ Learn More About Yolo County Public Defense https://www.yolocountypublicdefender.com/     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    1hr 7min
  4. 459 | What will Happen if Washington State does not Figure Out How to Fund Public Defense at the State Level? w/Matt Sanders

    25 MAR

    459 | What will Happen if Washington State does not Figure Out How to Fund Public Defense at the State Level? w/Matt Sanders

    Today, Hunter was joined by Matt Sanders, Director of King County's Department of Public Defense. Matt joins to discuss Washington's millionaire tax and the impact Public Defense will face because of the tax revenue no longer going to fund Public Defense.     Guest: Matt Sanders, Director, King County Department of Public Defense, Washington   Resources: Learn more about DPD here https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dpd       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    1hr 5min
  5. 458 | How Public Defense is Sold to the Lowest Bidder in Rural California w/Anat Rubin

    24 MAR

    458 | How Public Defense is Sold to the Lowest Bidder in Rural California w/Anat Rubin

    Today, Hunter was joined once again by Anat Rubin, an Investigative Journalist with Cal Matters. This time, Anat joins to discuss her reporting about the "Wal-Mart" of Public Defense. Coined decades ago, these private law firms who accept contracts to provide Public Defender services to rural parts of California have long faced scrutiny for their cost cutting practices.     Guest: Anat Rubin, Investigative Journalist, Cal Matters   Resources: Read Anat's Reporting Here https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/12/the-walmart-of-public-defense/       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    1hr 8min
  6. 457 | How Washington Built One of the Best Family Defense Teams in the Country w/Brett Ballew and Tonia McClanahan

    19 MAR

    457 | How Washington Built One of the Best Family Defense Teams in the Country w/Brett Ballew and Tonia McClanahan

    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 guests dive into a state that has been leading the way in this expansion.     Guest: Brett Ballew, Supervising Attorney, Public Defense Parent Representation Program, Washington Office of Public Defense Tonia McClanahana, Parent Voice Advocacy Manager, Public Defense Parent Representation Program, Washington Office of Public Defense   Resources: Learn More About OPD's Work Here https://opd.wa.gov/parents   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    1 hr
  7. 456 | How Public Defenders can Help Stop Family Separations w/Mary Anne Mendenhall

    17 MAR

    456 | How Public Defenders can Help Stop Family Separations w/Mary Anne Mendenhall

    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. Today, Mary Anne joins to provide a deep dive into the family separation industrial complex and how to better integrate family defenders into Public Defender offices. Guest: Mary Anne Mendenhall, Director, Family Defense Initiatives, Partners for Justice Resources: Find Mary Anne's Work with P4J https://partnersforjustice.org/family-defense Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home *** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER***

    1 hr
  8. 455 | What Can be Done to Slow the Spread of Mass Surveillance? w/Jay Stanley

    12 MAR

    455 | What Can be Done to Slow the Spread of Mass Surveillance? w/Jay Stanley

    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 spreading across America.     Guest: Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project     Resources: Check out Jay's Work and the Free Future Blog https://www.aclu.org/bio/jay-stanley https://www.aclu.org/freefuture   Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

    59 min
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Trailer

About

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 across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of you, Hunter is not an attorney, simply tired of a news cycle and talking heads that offer no real solutions to the ever-growing list of problems we face. Hunter hopes that with this information, you will share his belief that ordinary people still can make a difference.

Information

  • Creator
    Hunter Parnell
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    473
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Public Defenseless

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