Chicago can Save Millions for Taxpayers, Interrupt Police Code of Silence, and Reduce Violent Crime says University of California Irvine Law Review; Law Students Mobilize to Volunteer, Need CPD Cooperation

Using U.S. Census Bureau data, new report finds over $43 million will be saved annually with access to legal aid in Chicago police stations. Having a lawyer when detained cuts down on unnecessary jail stays and prevents police misconduct that otherwise costs taxpayers millions in large settlements and pay outs.

 
This Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, from 12 Noon-1:30 P.M., Northwestern Law students host Dr. Bryan Sykes (author of the study), First Defense Legal Aid and Bluhm Legal Clinic Director to discuss the fiscal and social benefits if CPD’s arrestees could access legal aid when detained.

 
Currently known for police torture, police killings, and misconduct, Chicago can instead be known for a unique solution! FDLA will make specific calls to action for getting volunteer attorneys and law students into the police stations.

 
In addition to the financial benefits of protecting all people’s constitutional right to representation, there are also some very important human benefits to society. Anti-violence outreach counselor Mr. Charles Jones, has ample evidence of the significant social benefits derived from First Defense Legal Aid and access to representation. “Working with high risk youth and young adults I learned one major obstacle to behavior modification: that they felt totally helpless when it came to abusive law enforcement. Their frustration often led to aggressive behavior. I teach young people about the law, their rights, accessing their rights and what can be done when they feel their rights have been violated. I am teaching them that every right we have as citizens came not from acting out on each other, but through the legal process”.

 
As panel moderator, First Defense Legal Aid VISTA and National Conference of Black Lawyers President, Vickie Casanova Willis points out, “the human rights impact of providing all arrestees access to representation regardless of their social status or race is huge. It actually allows the entire system of law enforcement to operate more on the right side of the law, just as they expect others to do. When 100% of people have the constitutional right to an attorney while in police custody yet fewer than 1% of arrestees had a lawyer while in CPD custody (2013), we have a problem. In the country that incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world, many of whom are exonerated later as innocent, Chicago has the opportunity to be a true leader in stemming the false confession epidemic since we are currently the only city that offers a free attorney upon arrest, via our First Defense Legal Aid hotline. ”

 
The nonprofit charitable organization First Defense Legal Aid is the only way people in Chicago police custody can access their right to an attorney free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, when someone calls 1(800) LAW-REP-4 to alert our volunteer attorneys. Collaboration for Justice, Chicago Council of Lawyers, Chicago Appleseed Fund, National Conference of Black Lawyers, and others are hosting and co-sponsoring.

 
The Chicago Police Department reported that only .3% of their arrestees had a lawyer at any police station last year. The other 99.7% had the right to a lawyer too, but the public defender isn’t appointed until days later, police do not allow arrestees to use the phones until the end of the process, and the legal aid number is not provided. So, First Defense relies on 3rd parties to deploy their free services. More volunteers are needed to meet the growing demand.

“Dash cams get tampered with. Getting everyone an advocate to watchdog their treatment and investigation while in CPD custody is the best practice for interrupting the code of silence.” -Eliza Solowiej, co-author of the report.
The panel event will be held at Northwestern University School of Law, 375 E. Chicago Ave., Rm # RB180

The report can be read HERE.