A New Approach To Justice

In the sterile halls of bureaucracy, a glimmer of hope emerges. Hillsborough's elected public defender, Lisa McLean, shatters the status quo with "PD13 Street Legal," a revolutionary initiative that brings vital services directly to the people. By setting up a satellite office once a month, McLean's team bridges the gap between the justice system and those who need it most. On February 21, the University Community Resource Center will host the first "PD13 Street Legal" event, where residents can access not only the public defender's office but also other essential services. Ibis Healthcare, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, and the Florida Department of Corrections will be present to offer support and guidance on mental health, jail, and probation-related matters. This holistic approach acknowledges that the root causes of crime are often intertwined with everyday struggles: transportation insecurity, work hours, and food and housing insecurity. McLean's vision is clear: to empower individuals to overcome the systemic barriers that prevent them from seeking help. By doing so, she and her team aim to resolve the underlying issues that lead people down the path of crime. As McLean so astutely observes, "When you don't know where you're going to lay your head, you're not really thinking about

For many people with a criminal case, getting downtown to the public defender's office on a weekday can be prohibitive.

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