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MEMPHIS (March 15, 2022) — The Black Public Defender Association (BPDA) and Gifts of Life Ministries are pleased to announce the launch of “Reimagining Public Safety,” a series of community forums that will engage Black Memphis residents in a collaborative discussion on ways to redefine the term “public safety.” The project will host its first

WASHINGTON (February 25, 2022) — The Black Public Defender Association Executive Director & Board Chair Heather Pinckney issued the following statement in response to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court.  Photo Credit: Kevin Lamarque Poole for Getty Images BPDA celebrates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman public defender nominated to

WASHINGTON (November 29, 2021) — The Black Public Defender Association Executive Director & Board Chair Heather Pinckney issued the following statement in response to the conviction of William Bryan and Travis and Gregory McMichaels in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery: Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Ahmaud Arbery. We hope the

WASHINGTON (November 23, 2021) — The Black Public Defender Association Executive Director & Board Chair Heather Pinckney issued the following statement in response to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict: “The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict serves as a reminder that a system will never fail those that it was designed to protect. The American criminal legal system was built for

WASHINGTON (April 20, 2021) — The Black Public Defender Association released the following statement in response to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin case: “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of George Floyd. We hope the verdict brings them some peace.  As Black defenders, we bear witness to the assaults inflicted on

BPDA fully supports the sentiments expressed in Philadelphia’s Chief Defender Keir Bradford-Grey’s op-ed. WASHINGTON (November 10, 2020) — The Black Public Defender Association issued the following statement today on why anti-racism must be the end goal of “progressive” prosecution and systemic justice reform in our country. We fully support the sentiments expressed in Philadelphia’s Chief Defender

WASHINGTON (September 25, 2020) — The Black Public Defender Association extends our heartfelt condolences to Breonna Taylor’s family, friends, and loved ones. Wednesday’s announcement of the grand jury’s decision to not indict the Louisville police officers for the killing of Breonna Taylor ​is unsurprising but still deeply painful for Black America. The grand jury’s announcement, which was made

“Save Black Lives” takes a deep dive into the impact of COVID-19 and incarceration in Black communities through the lens of Black defenders and researchers. WASHINGTON (August 5, 2020) — The Black Public Defender Association and the Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University today released “Save Black Lives: A Call for Racially-responsive Strategies and

Rollins slams the public defense community in an effort to raise issues of race and privilege in the public defender offices. WASHINGTON (May 12, 2020) — The Black Public Defender Association issued the following statement today in response to Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins comments made during a live interview on WGBH-FM radio show. Rollins