I Went Through The Justice System And All I Got Was A Branded Stress Ball

We’re talking about what survivors actually get out of the justice system and what they want out of it.

Key Topics

0:13 - Jane's trial
1:47 - Chanel Miller: guilty verdict, insufficient sentence
4:14 - What survivors want: accountability
5:36 - Denial as a second victimization
6:22 - Restorative justice
8:22 - Surrogates for when direct dialogue isn't safe or possible
11:51 - Civil litigation
13:51 - Contingency fees and the cost barrier
15:01 - NDAs and victim silence
17:22 - A new system: accountability over punishment

All sources, statistics, multimedia clips, and music credits are available on Substack.

About The Defendants

The Defendants is a podcast exploring how sexual assault cases move through the justice system… and why it never seems to work in favour of victims. We want to know what has to change within the system for it to actually work, and we are interrogating what justice means in the aftermath of trauma. This is a podcast where we figure out exactly how this system fails, why, and what to do about it.

Support This Project

Thanks for listening and being a part of this conversation. This is a completely grassroots, independent podcast. Your support directly funds our ability to continue. 

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Get in Touch

• Questions or ideas about the show? defendantspodoutreach@protonmail.com
• Follow on Instagram: @thedefendantspodcast | @jane_aster_roe
• Media appearances: daltonhiggins@gmail.com

Resources for Survivors

SA Survivor Resource Document - This document contains Canadian, U.S, and global sources to find guidance, information, and aid for survivors of sexual assault. Detailed descriptions of each resource within the document.

Our Team

Jane Aster Roe - Executive Producer, Host
Rachel Arundel - Executive Producer
Katie Jensen - Executive Producer, Editor, Sound Designer
Jessica Strachan - Story Producer
Charlotte Gregg - Research Producer
Isis Madrid - Editor, Sound Designer
Rachel Bromberg - Fact Checker
Dawson Fleming - Production Assistant
Michelle Crossman - Mental Health Consultant
Lindsey Keene - Outreach Coordinator
Cheryl Grossman - Legal
Dalton Higgins - Publicity
Kathlyn Gardner - Events

Thank you for listening. Be kind to yourself and to one another.