(Grand entrance music) Here comes the ... BRONX DEFENDERS!!

The vibe that I get from working here at the Bronx Defenders is just that---a superhero come to save the day for all those who cannot afford a defense attorney. As I immerse myself in the organizational culture here (way casual outfits and no overbearing rules), I find that all of the people that this organization represents aren't all bad guys. I grew up watching shows like Columbo, Matlock, Perry Mason and even Law & Order, where the bad guy was just that, the bad guy who felt no remorse for his/her actions. The opposite is true in many cases. A lot of the times it's an altercation between two people--both of which are innocent or both of whom are guilty.

On another note, I also realized how ABSURD some of these prison sentences are. A fellow CUSPer mentioned how if you get caught with an unregistered gun three times, you get a prison sentence for life! One of the clients that my organization defended got life in prison for a minor burglary charge, while this man was dying from AIDS and was addicted to heroin. Activists get thrown into jail for exorbitant sentences. What did the Angola 8 do that was so bad? Why are we still trying to free Mumia? Everyday I realize that the amount of people in jail for justifiably heinous crimes and no hope for rehabilitation are next to zero, lost among the petty thefters drug abusers and turnstile jumpers. I read one article on a young boy who almost obtained a criminal record for using his own Student MetroCard on Election Day. He didn't do anything wrong! What irks me the most about the justice and penal system is that a criminal, upon release, is still treated as inferior. Voting rights are taken away, financial aid is not available for at least a year if you commit a felony, not eligible for Pell Grants, and is under constant surveillance. I imagine the purpose of the penal system is to provide an opportunity for a new beginning and new start provided that you learned your lesson while in prison. But if upon release, you are not given a chance and your rights are not thusly reciprocated, then what was the point?

This week I got to go to a public hearing which was basically an update on what the NYPD was up to in terms of "Community policing." I also got to sit in on a murder trial that's pretty big at the law firm. It's exciting to see the direct/cross-examinations. Tension was high. It was funny because right before the trial started everyone was laughing it up like they were old buddies. The minute the trial started, however, attitudes got out of control.

My work with ReEntry Net is teaching me a ton of information. My supervisor lets me go to these police hearings and meetings about transitional housing, policing and bills being introduced into legislation regarding reentry issues. I work on the library and calendar events as well and I get to read statements regarding sustainability after imprisonment. I'm really learning a lot, and I hope to put that information to use way after leaving this internship for the summer.

My only wish is that the Bronx Defenders could extend their services to other bureaus. I feel that a lot of people would benefit greatly from their hard work and dedication. Like mentioned before, they have an 80% winning rate--that's got to be good.

It's never a dull moment here at the Bronx Defenders when you're saving the world one prisoner at a time.