Admitting it’s “not popular to be a criminal defense attorney,” one of Lowndes County’s five public defenders spoke Tuesday to the Columbus Rotary Club, hoping to give her audience a new perspective.
“It’s not a good feeling to be a victim of a crime,” said Carrie Jourdan, who also has a successful private practice in downtown Columbus. “It’s very easy to pound the podium and say, let’s put all these criminals away!
“Everybody is (saying) let’s put ’em away, until it’s their (family member or friend),” she continued. “Every time someone goes to jail, that is someone’s brother, husband, son, daughter or wife. These people all have stories.”
In an impassioned plea, Jourdan asked the Rotarians to remember victims’ stories often are “sadder or more heartbreaking,” but each defendant also should be considered and helped.
“When I represent these people, I don’t just meet them. I meet their (families) and (friends),” she explained. “Their people have stories, too. It’s easy to put labels on people. They’re a thug, a criminal, a murderer. And sometimes, the labels are justified. But that is not all they are. They are human beings.”
Jourdan noted competent representation of all defendants is a right crucial to everyone.
“The defense of our lowest, most vulnerable, least favorable elements contributes to the protection of all of us,” she said. “It’s OK to be outraged, but I want you to be able to look beyond the headlines and see (the defendant and the defendant’s family.) As long as we protect the constitutional rights for the least of us, that means the rest of us are protected.
“Our constitutional democracy is amazing. Our forefathers had an unbelievable foresight. Our jury system has developed (to) where everybody, if they do their job, we get a good result. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the outcome is exactly what should happen. If everybody does their job, our jury system works.”
Jourdan attributed an overburdened court system to a depressed economy and a lack of a stable family life for many.
“I can write you a script about the making of a criminal,” she said. “They (often are) born to underage mothers by an absent father or a father who leaves quickly. There’s no father at home; there’s no church that steps in. These are not welfare cases. The mother works two jobs. The streets raise them. They’re raised by their friends and buddies. They never connect with school. They can’t get a job at 16. They end up selling drugs, breaking into houses, stealing cars and doing things that make other people miserable.”
Jourdan said another common scenario includes a parent who doesn’t work, receives disability benefits and is caught in a quagmire of prescription drug abuse.
“People commit crimes because they’ve not been shown anything else,” she explained. “I don’t want you to be sympathetic, but what I want you to think is: What can we do? Can we adopt a neighborhood or a family? Can we mentor? We have to find a way to connect with that part of our community that’s been left behind.”
It’s an issue with both black and white races, and everyone can help, she added.
“It’s spreading,” she concluded. “As a criminal defense attorney, I see people when it’s almost too late. If, on a grass-roots level, we can reach out to those members of the community, it’s astonishing the difference a male presence can make in some of these young men’s lives. As a community, if we really care, there are things we can do.
“My message here is if we want a better community, better taxpayer base, we need to get into this community and address the issue. If your answer to everything is to send someone to prison, you’re making a better criminal. He’s going to come back out and be bitter and a better criminal. Let’s try some other stuff. Let’s give them a chance. We want people who are paying taxes, buying property and contributing to the community. Let’s help raise them up, because it raises us all up.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.