Consider This from NPR Hurricane Katrina helped change New Orleans' public defender system
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Aug 6, 2025 Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans, revealing the fragility of its public defender system. Incarcerated individuals were left in limbo, some lost for over a year. However, this disaster also paved the way for necessary reforms. Two decades later, improvements in the public defense system showcase resilience and advocacy. The journey from chaos to progress underscores the impact of systemic change in the pursuit of justice.
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Inmate trapped post-Katrina
- Ronald Marshall was trapped in Orleans Parish Prison with no air, light, or water for nearly a week after Hurricane Katrina.
- He was moved multiple times without his lawyers or family knowing his location, showing the chaos in the system.
Systemic collapse exposed
- Thousands of incarcerated people had no records or clear reasons for detention post-Katrina.
- This highlighted the systemic collapse and failure to uphold the constitutional right to legal defense.
Garvey’s Katrina career start
- Megan Garvey started her public defense career by tracking down thousands of imprisoned people lost in the post-Katrina chaos.
- She credits Katrina as the pivotal event that motivated her lifelong dedication to public defense.