America’s criminal justice system relies on public defenders to represent anyone without access to a private attorney. But public defenders are chronically under-resourced and overburdened with caseloads. Can technology help lessen that load and, in effect, make the criminal justice system more just? This week’s guest, Devshi Mehrotra, says yes. Devshi is co-founder and CEO of JusticeText, a startup developing AI software to help lawyers search and review case material more efficiently and enhance police accountability. She joins Reid and Aria to talk about JusticeText’s offerings and opportunities, along with public-private partnerships and local governments’ evolving attitudes toward AI and innovation. Plus, a public defender shares her experience using JusticeText and Devshi demos the platform. 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

3:10 - Hellos and intros

6:47 - What inspired the creation of JusticeText

10:38 - What America’s public defenders are up against

12:35 - How JusticeText can help

14:32 - On being a for-profit company 

18:11 - Creating a new market

20:47 - JusticeText’s customer base 

23:33 - Midroll 

23:41 - A testimony from a public defender using the platform

24:40 - Requests for new features

25:58 - JusticeText demo

28:50 - How AI is supporting, not replacing, public defenders’ jobs

30:23 - The intersection of government and technology

32:53 - How local governments are thinking about AI

34:59 - Other technologies that could improve the justice system

37:28 - What entrepreneurial advice Devshi would give her younger self 

38:43 - The future of JusticeText 

40:42 - Rapid-fire questions