Broken Justice PBS NewsHour

It's been about a year since Ricky Kidd was exonerated of charges for a 1996 double homicide he didn't commit. As he's set out to build a new life after 23 years in prison, the world has also changed around him, amid a global pandemic and widespread protests against police violence and racism, including calls for criminal justice reform. In this special episode, producer Frank Carlson catches up with Ricky about the fallout from his case, his work with others who have been wrongfully convicted and the challenges the formerly incarcerated face in restarting their lives. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Much of what we've heard about the coronavirus is from major cities like New York. But what's happening to hospitals in rural America, where there are more high-risk patients, fewer resources and a smaller safety net -- if there is one at all? We talk to two front-line hospital workers in southwest Georgia, and one man in West Texas who has pieced together his own supply chain to get hospitals the equipment they need. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Ricky Kidd is finally free -- thanks to his pro bono legal team, led by law professor Sean O'Brien. In this bonus episode, Ricky and Sean tell us about adjusting to life after prison and we talk through some loose ends from the case. Also, we ask Ricky what gives him hope for reform in the criminal justice system.
PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

After 23 years behind bars, and a crushing defeat in 2009, Ricky Kidd finally gets a new day in court. Plus, we take a look inside a new St. Louis County prosecutor's campaign to uproot the process that fuels the overload on public defenders. Could changing the way crimes are prosecuted be the answer to the public defense crisis? If you have questions for us or Ricky, you can send them to podcasts@newshour.org
PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The most common tool used to attack problems in public defender systems is the class action lawsuit. But what if there's a better strategy? Steve Hanlon, a longtime advocate for systemic legal reform, has a big idea about big data. This is the story of how his data changed things for public defenders in Missouri, and ultimately led to a state-wide showdown with the governor.
PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The American justice system is based around the idea that you can get to the truth when two opposing sides make their cases in court. But what happens if your defense attorney is so overloaded they can't handle the case that could cost you your freedom? What happens when the most important testimony goes unheard, or when the evidence that could prove your innocence goes unseen? These failures aren't hypothetical. They happen all the time. They happened to Ricky Kidd.
PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders