346 | The Revival of Public Defense in Santa Cruz County California w/Heather Rogers and Caitlin Becker

Apr 15, 2025

01:20:02

forum

Ask episode

view_agenda

Chapters

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

Today, Hunter spoke with Heather Rogers and Caitlin Becker of the Santa Cruz County Public Defenders. In 2020, the Sixth Amendment Center put together a report detailing the severe issues with how Santa Cruz County provided Public Defense. At the time, a law firm was working a flat rate fee contract to provide public defender services in the county. As is expected, that system was deeply flawed and couldn't meet the demands of the Sixth Amendment. Fast forward five years, Heather, Caitlin, and the team at the Santa Cruz County Public Defender has transformed the office into a comprehensive holistic defender program. How did that happen? What are the benefits of this model? All those questions and more on today's episode!

Guest

Heather Rogers, The Public Defender, Santa Cruz County, California

Caitlin Becker, Director of Holistic Defense, Santa Cruz County, California

Resources:

Read the 6AC Report Here

https://6ac.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/6AC_ca_santacruzcountyreport_2020.pdf

Contact Santa Cruz County Public Defenders Here

https://www.santacruzdefenders.us/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-rogers-3525b4242/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvUi9TWRyNIOvEwgHN87KA

https://www.facebook.com/CruzDefenders#

https://www.instagram.com/cruzdefender/