Transcript DC Public Defender Service - Washington and Lee University

DC Public Defender Service
Champions of Liberty
Shepherd Alliance Summer Internship 2009
By: Sasha Mills
Brief Description of the
Mission of the DC PDS
The Public Defender Service for the District
of Columbia (PDS) provides and
promotes quality legal representation to
indigent adults and children facing a
loss of liberty in the District of Columbia
and thereby protects society's interest in
the fair administration of justice.
A day in the life of an Intern
Investigator: My Roles and Duties
• Serve Subpoenas
• Attend court hearings/trails for clients and sometimes for witnesses
in our clients cases as well
• Meet with clients at jail, their residence, or where ever they’re
located (ex. Halfway house, St. Elizabeth's)
• Keep clients updated on our investigations
• Contact clients relatives/friends when necessary
• Photograph and diagram alleged crime scenes, clients injuries…
• Canvass neighborhoods to find out information on our cases and
find witnesses
• Gather documents (ex. Police reports, medical records, mental
health records, housing records, phone records, signed subpoenas
from judges chambers, criminal records, etc.)
• WRITE MEMOS on everyone we talk to or everything we find out
• Interview and or get signed statements from witnesses
IMPRESSIONS
OF THE
AGENCY
WHAT I GAINED FROM THE
EXPERIENCE/FUTURE GOALS
AND PLANS
THOSE WILLING TO GIVE UP A LITTLE LIBERTY FOR A LITTLE SECURITY DESERVE
NEITHER SECURITY NOR LIBERTY.
- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
WE CANNOT DEFEND FREEDOM ABROAD BY DESERTING IT AT HOME.
-EDWARD R. MURROW
YEARS AGO I RECOGNIZED MY KINSHIP WITH ALL LIVING
THINGS, AND I MADE UP MY MIND THAT I WAS NOT ONE
BIT BETTER THAN THE MEANEST ON THE EARTH. I SAID
THEN AND I SAY NOW, THAT WHILE THERE IS A LOWER
CLASS, I AM IN IT; WHILE THERE IS A CRIMINAL ELEMENT, I
AM OF IT; WHILE THERE IS A SOUL IN PRISON, I AM NOT
FREE.
-EUGENE V. DEBS
FOR EVERY MAN WHO LIVES WITHOUT FREEDOM, THE REST OF US MUST FACE
THE GUILT.
-LILLIAN HELLMAN
WHAT IDEAS—POVERTY AND SERVICES FOR THE
UNDERPRIVILEGED WERE CHALLENGED,
CHANGED OR CONFIRMED BY THIS EXPERIENCE
DID THIS INTERNSHIP
CHANGE HOW YOU DEFINE
AND PERCEIVE POVERTY
IN THE US?
ANY PROFOUND OR “AH-HA”
MOMENTS?? (SOOO MANY FUNNY
MOMENTS OUT IN THE FIELD)
LIVING
ARRANGEMENT
FEEDBACK
CATHOLIC
UNIVERSITY OF
AMERICA: CURLEY
PICTURES!!!