http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_717_Public_Defender.mp3 A former public defender worries if the criminal justice system will survive the bad economy. Also: a school resource officer comes to appreciate his job. Plone 2.0 http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_717_Public_Defender.mp3/logo.jpg http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_717_Public_Defender.mp3 <h4>Right to a lawyer?<br /></h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/f69246fa355b8aa338f3cad1a8a46b65" alt="Arthur-Jones.jpg" height="100" width="100" />Arthur Jones</p><p>The economic crisis has most states facing tough decisions about cuts in services. Florida is among several states that have opted to cut funds from the public defender system, which provides lawyers to poor people charged with crimes. Arthur Jones was a public defender in the Miami-Dade County court system. When Florida slashed the budget, Arthur barely had time to meet some of his clients, let alone spend time at home with his two children. He talks with Dick Gordon about how he came to the decision to quit the job he loved, and why he thinks the health of the criminal justice system matters to all of us.</p><p><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Contact Us</a></p><h4>protecting the kids<br /></h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/c7ed8ae12880997bf59af626f50bdfe0" alt="SRO.jpg" height="100" width="100" />Jim Howard</p><p>Jim Howard works as a school resource officer. Among other responsibilities, it's his job to stand at the front door while kids pour in and out of Fike High School in Wilson, N.C. Jim never expected to be in this job long. But in his first year, a student died tragically, and Jim found himself with an unexpectedly important role to play. Seventeen years later, Jim is still there.<br /></p><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Contact Us</a><br /> Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:02:57