DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an in-depth interview with leaders from La Defensa, a nonprofit organization working to end reliance on jails, cash bail, and the criminal justice system that perpetuates harm. They discuss the organization's goals, initiatives like rate my judge and court watch programs, and their efforts to promote alternatives to incarceration and transform the judiciary system.
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Measure J, a ballot measure that La Defensa helped pass in 2020, which allocates funds towards community-based services and alternatives to incarceration in Los Angeles County. The guests explain the importance of Measure J, the challenges faced during implementation, and their continued advocacy efforts.
The conversation also touches on broader topics such as the flaws of the cash bail system, the need for judicial accountability, the impact of incarceration on vulnerable communities, and the concept of transformative justice as an alternative to punitive approaches to public safety. The guests share their personal experiences and perspectives that drive their work towards creating a more just and equitable system.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- La Defensa is a nonprofit organization working to end reliance on jails, cash bail, and the criminal justice system that perpetuates harm.
- They advocate for alternatives to incarceration, judicial accountability, and transformative approaches to public safety through initiatives like rate my judge, court watch, and Measure J.
- Measure J, a ballot measure passed in 2020, allocates funds towards community-based services and alternatives to incarceration in Los Angeles County.
- La Defensa emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes of harm, investing in communities, and providing resources to prevent crime and support survivors.
- They challenge the cash bail system, which disproportionately impacts legally innocent individuals from vulnerable communities.
- La Defensa is working to create a pipeline of public defenders as judicial candidates to balance the bench and promote a more equitable judiciary system.
- They aim to shift the focus from punitive measures to life-affirming alternatives that prioritize community investment and transformative justice.
- La Defensa's work involves advocacy, community engagement, and efforts to change not just the outcomes of the system, but the system itself.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “What does keep communities safe, to Gabby's point, is investing in our basic needs. Because when people have their basic needs met, they're able to stabilize their lives and are able to dream and are able to pursue their passions and their goals.“ by Yvette Ale Ferlito
- “Being accountable is not just about the person that committed harm, it's also about providing the resources to the survivor so we don't replicate those cycles.“ by Yvette Ale Ferlito
- “We are talking about legally innocent people. 50% of the people in LA county jails are not convicted.“ by Yvette Ale Ferlito
- “So when we're talking about life affirming alternatives to incarceration, when we're talking about the way that punitive measures just seem like the status quo for us, it's very, very important to continuously uplift the fact that these programs already exist in our communities.“ by Gabby Vasquez
Entities
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Episode Information
What's Next, Los Angeles? with Mike Bonin
Mike Bonin
1/9/24
Does our criminal justice system work? Does it really provide for public safety? Or is it a broken, racist system that makes society’s troubles even worse? I talk with leaders of La Defensa, a nonprofit working to end our reliance on jails, cash bail, and a system that throws people away.
Guests:
Ivette Alé-Ferlito, executive director and co-founder, La Defensa
Megan Castillo, ReImagine LA Coalition Coordinator, La Defensa
Gabriela Vázquez, Deputy Director, La Defensa
La Defensa: https://ladefensa.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladefensx/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ladefensx/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJNyAax_3VApe5qtRExmWw
Re-Imagine LA: https://reimagine.la/
Defenders of Justice judicial slate: https://www.thedefendersofjusticela.com/
Court Watch LA: https://courtwatchla.org/