How Will Maryland Public Defense Handle It's Workload Crisis and a Slate of New Criminal Law Policies w/Natasha Dartigue

Today, Hunter spoke with Natasha Dartigue, the Chief Public Defender of the Maryland Office of Public Defense. This time, Natasha and Hunter spoke about the workload crisis facing the state and a slate of new criminal legal policies that are pushing Maryland in a better direction.  

Guest:

Natasha Dartigue, Chief Public Defender, Maryland

Resources:

Maryland Public Defender

https://opd.state.md.us/

Immigration (both bills passed and went into effect 6/1/25):

• Sensitive locations: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0828 

• MD Values Act: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb1222 

National workloads:

• Annual report:  https://opd.state.md.us/_files/ugd/8cb54c_7eabe4b48b944b209533fe9f6332605b.pdf

Youth Justice:

• Last year's bill to limit the automatic charging of children as adults (did not pass):  https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0422

• Our one-pager on the issue: https://opd.state.md.us/_files/ugd/8cb54c_9460bce1042a4eecbcba1b7e17e6f715.pdf

Second Look Act (goes into effect 10/1/25): 

• https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0853

Parental Defense:

• Know Before They Knock bill (did not pass): https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0223

• Preventing Harm of Separation one-pager: https://opd.state.md.us/_files/ugd/868471_3f9ec04e1aa449669a307ea0fbd471c6.pdf

• Know Before They Knock 1-pager: https://opd.state.md.us/_files/ugd/868471_840039a4932143ee927752745c619647.pdf

Safer Traffic Stops:

• SB292/HB635 (did not pass): https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/sb0292

• One-pager on SB292: https://opd.state.md.us/_files/ugd/8cb54c_880a090626d046f0a536bd4ea12ebcaa.pdf

Contact Hunter Parnell:                                

Publicdefenseless@gmail.com 

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