Protests that are moving across America are meant to highlight racism in the United States and how it plays out in numerous ways in our society each day. In doing this, these protests are also highlighting the myriad ways that the criminal justice system in this country must be reformed… and starting to make those reforms a reality.

Here are just a few of the criminal justice reforms that activists are working on to help ensure all Americans are free to exercise their rights.

Police Reform

One of the biggest issues addressed by these protests is police reform. You may have heard the term “defunding” or “abolishing” the police, but what does that mean?

At its heart, calling for defunding the police is a call for restructuring the way those in the community who are in crisis are dealt with by law enforcement officials. Often, sending an armed police officer to a scene where what is really needed is a crisis intervention specialist or mental health counselor can make a situation go from bad to worse.

Especially in communities of color, law enforcement is seen as being selective in the enforcement of even low-level offenses. Additionally, there have been far too many instances of using excessive force that has resulted in the deaths of unarmed people such as Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Having other trained professionals aside from police available to respond to emergencies is critical.

Public Defense Reform

Every single defendant in the criminal justice system is entitled to effective counsel by the Constitution of the United States. The problem is that a lack of time, skills, and resources often render court-appointed counsel ineffective, thus denying defendants the ability to exercise their fundamental rights. For example, defendants may be forced to appear at hearings for bail or probable cause by themselves. Unfortunately, some of these defendants end up paying for the shortcomings of our public defense system with their lives. Public defenders do what they can, but if the system isn’t working, then there’s only so much they can do.

Protecting and expanding the right to legal counsel for criminal defendants is essential to ensure that people can get the legal advice they need in court for matters large and small. Of course, private defense attorneys can help to move a case along at a faster pace and ensure your rights are upheld — but for that to happen defendants have to reach out first.

Drug Law Reform

Another pressing issue in communities across the country is drug law reform. It’s widely believed that drug laws should reflect the collective will of the people, yet jail sentences for even minor marijuana convictions are common. This is despite the fact that most Americans believe small amounts of marijuana possession shouldn’t translate into jail time.

The fact of the matter is that in the United States, even minor drug convictions that never result in jail time can have a huge impact on the people’s lives. Many of those convicted cannot qualify for public housing, get certain types of jobs, access federal student loans, or hold a driver’s license without paying large fees to have a suspended license reinstated.

In short, current drug policies create large inequalities, which is why drug decriminalization and protections for some drugs are huge issues that must be addressed.

Even as this is being written, some legislative steps are being taken on many of these issues. However, if you are already in the middle of your case, you may not be able to wait for the criminal justice system to catch up. You need to put together the strongest possible case now and fight hard for your freedom and future.

About the Author: Andrew M. Weisberg is a former felony prosecutor who now serves as a defense attorney in the greater Chicago area. He has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and domestic violence to retail theft-related crimes, murder, and drug crimes. His work has been recognized by Avvo, Expertise, National Trial Lawyers, and others, and he has been featured on countless news outlets for his experience and knowledge in criminal law.

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It was, according to news reports from that time, a brutal and undeserved death. A 36-year-old female bartender was found dead in the men’s restroom of the bar where she worked in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 29, 1991. Apparently, she had died from a fatal stab wound, and there was little evidence to help officers track down the killer. Besides the fact that she was found naked, there were no signs of a physical assault or semen and DNA samples to indicate that a rape occurred.

The only relevant piece of evidence investigators had was the bite marks found on the victim’s neck and breast. After learning from a friend of the victim’s that a certain Ray Krone was supposed to help her close the bar on that particular night, police officers asked Krone to provide an impression of his teeth for comparison. The lab results got Krone arrested and accused of sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder.

Although Krone pleaded innocent and maintained his testimony throughout the trial, saying he was in bed and asleep at the moment the crime was committed, he was sentenced to death and a consecutive 21-year imprisonment – on the counts of murder and kidnapping. He appealed the court decision, but lost again; however, his sentence was changed to life in prison, as certain doubts about the validity of the evidence started to surface.

Finally, after serving more than 10 years of his sentence and spending two years on the death row, Krone was released on April 8, 2002, after DNA testing proved his innocence. Prior to his arrest, Ray Krone had no criminal record, had worked in the postal service for several years, and was a respected member of the community. What helped him during this time was the support he continued to receive from his family:

“One time after my release, I was being interviewed, and so was my mom. I happened to pass the room in which the reporter was speaking with her. I heard my mom tell him, ‘Our family used to set a place at the table for Ray at every Thanksgiving and Christmas.’ To hear that, to think of what my mom went through, to hear her say, ‘We wondered what he was eating in prison,’that helped me realise how I need to do this for her, for my sisters, for all the people who have sat in a courtroom and been told that they are guilty when they are not.”

Just like Ray, many other people spent time in jail for crimes they didn’t commit. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, Krone was the 100^th former death row inmate released because he was innocent and the 12^th to have his innocence proven by post-sentencing DNA testing.

The biggest problem with wrongful-conviction cases is that it directly unveils the sad reality of our criminal justice system, one ridden with technical mistakes and faulty evidence. In too many cases, innocent people are sentenced to years in prison based on the flimsiest of evidence: DNA testing, eyewitness testimonies, and false confessions. Instead of admitting dubious evidence tocourt and accusing innocent people of crimes they didn’t commit, legislators should focus on fixing the system by building in protections for the wrongfully convicted and give them a chance to recover their lives.

About the Author Andrew M. Weisberg is a criminal defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois. A former prosecutor in Cook County, Mr. Weisberg,is a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar, an elite group of criminal attorneys who are certified by the Illinois Supreme Court to try death penalty cases. He is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Mr. Weisberg is a sole practitioner at the Law Offices of Andrew M. Weisberg.

Gideon v. Wainwright established every person’s right to legal counsel, even if they couldn’t afford a lawyer. This right was already articulated in the U.S. constitution, but the 1963 Supreme Court case made state-appointed public defenders a legal right.

States want to provide quality legal defense, and Minnesota is no exception. In the face of what you might call a public defense crisis, Minnesota’s doing a lot – like providing well-educated, passionate people who practice law and work long hours every day to try and accomplish their case load.

But that’s the problem: really long hours. Minnesota public defense lawyers are overworked, trying to handle 250 new felony cases every year when the American Bar Association says 150 should be the limit.

Take a look at the infographic below, illustrating and summarizing the crisis on a local and national scale alike.

This infographic was created on behalf of the Law Office of Carolyn Agin Schmidt. Please share it so that more people can learn about the status of criminal representation in the U.S.

Brooke McDonald writes and blogs for Minneapolis criminal defense attorney Carolyn Agin Schmidt.

When it comes to DUI cases, an arresting officer can easily misinterpret the results of a field sobriety test and charge someone with DUI when they were perhaps tired, had difficulty walking on uneven pavement, or even because the driver was wearing high heeled shoes. When you have a knowledgeable defense lawyer at your side, your lawyer will know the kinds of questions that need to be asked to determine if the “evidence” upon which your charges were based is even credible. If there is a doubt, it could be fairly easy for your criminal defense lawyer in Chicago to get the charges dropped altogether.

When you are facing criminal charges, a knowledgeable and experienced defense lawyer in the Chicago area can be one of your best resources for protecting your rights and your future. At the Law Offices of Andrew M Weisberg, you will find a defense lawyer who has years of experience successfully handling cases just like yours. When you need the help of an expert criminal defense lawyer in Chicago, you need Andrew M. Weisberg.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Chicago – If you have been arrested, no matter how straightforward or complex the charge, Andrew M. Weisberg is a criminal defense lawyer in Chicago known for tough, aggressive defense. A former felony prosecutor, Attorney Weisberg has extensive experience in handling all types of criminal cases, from sex offenses and violent crimes to theft-related crimes and traffic violations. To contact Mr. Weisberg, visit /, call the office at 312.854.7004 or call his cell phone 24/7 at 773.908.9811 or Text LAWYER to 25827 for a prompt call back. The initial consultation is free.