Posted December 6, 2024
We are proud to announce our partnership with the Santa Cruz County Public Defender's Office to bring cutting-edge video evidence review tools to their team of more than 50 attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and client advocates.
The Santa Cruz County Public Defender's Office launched in 2022, opening their doors with a commitment to holistic defense from day one. They not only work with clients on their immediate legal challenges, but also work to address the underlying issues – homelessness, mental health challenges, substance use disorders – that led them to contact with the criminal justice system in the first place.
Heather Rogers is the first Public Defender for Santa Cruz County, her birthplace and home. She has dedicated more than 20 years to public defense at the state and federal level, tackling systemic issues by challenging the everyday injustices her clients face in the courtroom. She is supported by Edward Willey, an experienced software developer who helps ensure his team of passionate advocates has the technological tools needed for zealous advocacy.
Criminal cases today involve a staggering amount of video evidence. As a public defense leader, Heather appreciates that video evidence provides a more transparent view of law enforcement interactions. For example, a body-worn camera may reveal details about what actually happened in an incident that might not appear in a more prosecution-oriented police report.
However, this evidence also “creates an overwhelming amount of discovery that it is our obligation to view and understand”. This challenge is compounded by the fact that public defenders are often in what Heather describes as a “David and Goliath system,” one in which prosecutors in California alone have more than $1 billion more to work with than their public defender counterparts.
Heather and Edward rolled out JusticeText to their team to help address this challenge. JusticeText automatically transcribes body-worn cameras, interrogation videos, and more while providing AI-powered tools to get to the most important moments quickly.
The platform has already helped their team sift through mountains of audio and video evidence, significantly reducing the workload. Heather’s vision is that, by integrating JusticeText, they will free up more time for direct client advocacy, including diving deep into investigations and connecting with clients to meet their needs.
The JusticeText team is excited to partner with Heather, Edward, and the Santa Cruz team to improve their pursuit of passionate, holistic advocacy for each of their clients.
"All the time that we spend here reviewing a video, we’re not sitting in jail rocking with other humans, or investigating cases… so to the extent that we can create some efficiencies, we are able to do more of the courageous, compassionate work that our clients and community deserve."
If you are an attorney looking to make sense of high volumes of audiovisual discovery, there are many ways in which you can utilize JusticeText to streamline your pre-trial preparation process. Reach out today to learn about how you can get started with JusticeText.