Interesting tales of the California and Los Angeles criminal justice system. You’ll hear from public defenders, bail bonsmen, people who’ve been to jail, and people just trying to get by. All narrated by a soft-spoken guy with a British accent.

Doesn’t matter what podcast system I use-IT DOES NOT PLAY-only shows “Episode Unavailable” pretty lame they advertise non stop and now it doesn’t even play?! Get it together! Should get ZERO stars for not playing 😡

Doing a great job on a world that most Americans are insulated from, giving a voice to folks most Americans don't want to know or hear about. Big shout out to JC Swadic(spelling?) the sound mix was really spot on!

Off the Block stands out. I caught it several times while driving, and sought the other episodes online. Each story is insightful, human and educational. I’ll be honest that I knew very little about the LA jail system before listening, though I know quite a bit about the criminal justice system in general, and I feel much closer to the city I live in for heard these segments. Now, I think about family members traveling to see their loved ones in jail every time Six Flags comes up, I see Skid Row quite differently, and next time I pass through Westmont I’ll wonder how Vernell is doing. Criminal justice reporting often lacks the nuance this series captured, andI particularly appreciated the eye opening piece on mental health. As a long time listener of KCRW, I really appreciated reporting that spoke to me as someone who has many friends who have experienced incarceration. Please produce content like this!

I find it ironic that a British journalist has been my gateway into the criminal justice system in LA - a world that I’ve had zero contact with (for example, the bail bond system was still a bit confusing to me prior to listening to this series). The stories are short but rich, and George has such a gentle approach that he’s immediately likable, both to listeners and to those he’s interviewing. I can’t think of anyone else who is taking the time to bring stories like this to light, showing the human toll of the criminal justice system.

Really enjoying this podcast! It gets at the real story, the human impact. Great reporting!!

Lavender does a masterful of job of highlighting the plight of a demographic rarely given a voice. Informative, riveting and highly recommended.

George Lavender has the kind of gentle voice (both literally and figuratively) that allows him to go places, ask questions and report hard facts in a way that disarms both interviewees and listeners. It's just the kind of voice needed to guide a series about the criminal justice system. I can't wait to her the next installment!

This show seeks out and lifts up the voices of people caught up in the criminal justice system in Los Angeles, and treats them and their stories with respect. This is extremely rare in mass media and makes for a super compelling listen. You will learn a lot, but it doesn’t feel academic at all. Highly recommended!

The passion for humanity that spills from the edges of this podcast cannot be understated. Considering the political and social turmoil of today, this podcast takes special care to paint a full picture of the street without 'taking sides.' Don't miss this one