Last week, at the invitation of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bruce Hulme, ISPLA Government Affairs Director and I participated in the National Symposium on Criminal Defense in Washington, D.C. The symposium was organized to correct deficiencies presently existing in the legal representation of the indigent, which has been documented by the American Bar Association and others to be “a system that lacks fundamental fairness and places poor persons at constant risk of wrongful convictions.”
More than 45 years have passed since the Gideon decision of the U.S. Supreme Court and decades since it extended to juveniles the right to counsel. The symposium had some 140 presenters and more than 800 attendees, who took part in five plenary sessions and 37 workshops. The event provided an overview of the advances and setbacks in implementing the Sixth Amendment right to counsel in America over the past decade. An effort was made to find solutions to the current crisis in indigent defense through litigation and legislation. A disparate group of concerned individuals and organizations gathered to present their views–judges, prosecutors, public defenders, defense attorneys, law school academics, forensic organizations, policy and advocacy groups, and ISPLA, representing investigative professionals. Panelists expressed concerns with areas of criminal defense, particularly those affecting the indigent and wrongly accused.
On behalf of investigators everywhere, ISPLA welcomed the opportunity to provide input to many of the participants present, calling attention to the important role played by investigators as an integral part of the criminal justice system.
Both Bruce and I agreed to work with our legislators, prosecutors, judges and public defenders to ensure that investigators have a voice in this fight. Interestingly enough, even the turnaround time that it takes to get investigators paid was discussed.
The US Attorney General, Eric Holder, addressed the attendees and asked that everyone play a role in advancing the cause for justice. AG Holder speech can be found at http://bit.ly/d5rLGu .
The mission of ISPLA is to monitor and identify critical legislative and regulatory issues in order to provide a forum for debate and discussion within the investigative and security professions and to serve as an advocate for these professions.
The full press release can be viewed at http://bit.ly/cyewKu .
If you are interested in learning more about this process feel free to give me a call 703 528 5882.
I am speaking at the PISA Symposium and I hope to see you there.http://www.pisa.gen.va.us/symposium.html
–
Best Regards,
Nicole Bocra
Infinity Investigative Solutions
PO Box 17832, Arlington, VA 22216
Phone: 703 528 5882
