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Gideon's Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice
A blueprint for criminal justice reform that puts a new generation of public defenders front and center in the fight for legal equality
Combining wisdom drawn from over a dozen years as a public defender and cutting-edge research in the fields of organizational and cultural psychology, Jonathan Rapping reveals the pervasive issues inherent in our current system of public defense, and lays the foundation for how model public defense programs should work to end mass incarceration.
Public defenders represent over eighty percent of those who interact with the court system, a disproportionate number of whom are poor, non-white citizens who rely on them to navigate the law on their behalf. More often than not, even the most well-meaning of those defenders are over-worked, under-funded, and incentivized to put the interests of judges and politicians above those of their clients in a culture that beats the passion out of talented, driven advocates, and has led to an embarrassingly low standard of justice for those who depend on the promises of Gideon v. Wainwright.
However, rather than arguing for a change in rules that govern the actions of lawyers, judges, and other advocates, Rapping proposes a radical cultural shift to a "fiercely client-based ethos" driven by values-based recruitment and training, awakening defenders to their role in upholding an unjust status quo, and a renewed pride in the essential role of moral lawyering in a democratic society.
Through the story of founding Gideon's Promise and anecdotes of his time as a defender and teacher, Rapping reanimates the possibility of public defenders serving as a radical bulwark against government oppression and a megaphone to amplify the voices of those they serve.
Combining wisdom drawn from over a dozen years as a public defender and cutting-edge research in the fields of organizational and cultural psychology, Jonathan Rapping reveals the pervasive issues inherent in our current system of public defense, and lays the foundation for how model public defense programs should work to end mass incarceration.
Public defenders represent over eighty percent of those who interact with the court system, a disproportionate number of whom are poor, non-white citizens who rely on them to navigate the law on their behalf. More often than not, even the most well-meaning of those defenders are over-worked, under-funded, and incentivized to put the interests of judges and politicians above those of their clients in a culture that beats the passion out of talented, driven advocates, and has led to an embarrassingly low standard of justice for those who depend on the promises of Gideon v. Wainwright.
However, rather than arguing for a change in rules that govern the actions of lawyers, judges, and other advocates, Rapping proposes a radical cultural shift to a "fiercely client-based ethos" driven by values-based recruitment and training, awakening defenders to their role in upholding an unjust status quo, and a renewed pride in the essential role of moral lawyering in a democratic society.
Through the story of founding Gideon's Promise and anecdotes of his time as a defender and teacher, Rapping reanimates the possibility of public defenders serving as a radical bulwark against government oppression and a megaphone to amplify the voices of those they serve.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2020
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1082 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 7, 2021
Career-changing.
Rap makes the striking case that public defenders must incrementally change the culture of a broken criminal justice system that values the speedy "processing" of cases as akin to good "lawyering instincts". A broken system that is based upon triaging heavy caseloads while calling it justice. He implores public defenders to turn to a client-centered representation that makes humanity visible.
Public defenders are the friction on the conveyor belt of the steady processing of people charged with crimes. Public defenders are not part of the machine, not a cog in the wheel; they are the sand in the gears, the wrench to bring it all to a grinding halt when necessary. Incrementally, one client at a time, forgiving themselves for all the injustices they are unable to address. Being, at the very least, client-centered against the pressure to move cases. Public defenders are the conscience of a humane justice system.
This book was short and very sweet.
Rap makes the striking case that public defenders must incrementally change the culture of a broken criminal justice system that values the speedy "processing" of cases as akin to good "lawyering instincts". A broken system that is based upon triaging heavy caseloads while calling it justice. He implores public defenders to turn to a client-centered representation that makes humanity visible.
Public defenders are the friction on the conveyor belt of the steady processing of people charged with crimes. Public defenders are not part of the machine, not a cog in the wheel; they are the sand in the gears, the wrench to bring it all to a grinding halt when necessary. Incrementally, one client at a time, forgiving themselves for all the injustices they are unable to address. Being, at the very least, client-centered against the pressure to move cases. Public defenders are the conscience of a humane justice system.
This book was short and very sweet.
January 12, 2023
Has some good quotes you can put along your office to keep you motivated. It adds an alternative view to how to fix the current justice system, and gives examples of the potential horrors caused by complacency of people involved in the process. I would recommend this to anyone starting out as a public defender, or an attorney in a public defender’s office who seem to be in a rut.
My only issue is that despite its linear narrative format it can get a little repetitive. However, it’s not entirely Rapping’s fault. He has attempted to place this client-centered public defender culture in many offices through his career, and it’s incredibly admirable.
My only issue is that despite its linear narrative format it can get a little repetitive. However, it’s not entirely Rapping’s fault. He has attempted to place this client-centered public defender culture in many offices through his career, and it’s incredibly admirable.
May 16, 2021
Quixotic at best; delusional the more apt term. What’s meant to be an inspiring blueprint for PDs and equip them to drive substantive change in a fundamentally unAmerican criminal justice system molders into a muddled mess.
“We [public defenders] can cultivate a community of prosecutors who actually care about the people they prosecute, but we will still need public defenders to help them understand the people they judge.”
“Public defenders play the role of pushing well-intentioned prosecutors and judges to see the human beings before them and to treat them with dignity.”
“Prosecutors have little control over who the police choose to monitor and arrest.”
“Less punitive prosecutors can help forge a less cruel system. They do not have the power to transform it.”
I’ve never met a Public Defender that would concur with any of those four statements and their warped, ignorant premises (some I’d classify as downright lies). The third (/3) segment of this book wholly undermined the author’s credibility, and leaves the reader feeling hopeless at the criminal justice system’s endless ratchet towards greater punishment, less empathy.
“We [public defenders] can cultivate a community of prosecutors who actually care about the people they prosecute, but we will still need public defenders to help them understand the people they judge.”
“Public defenders play the role of pushing well-intentioned prosecutors and judges to see the human beings before them and to treat them with dignity.”
“Prosecutors have little control over who the police choose to monitor and arrest.”
“Less punitive prosecutors can help forge a less cruel system. They do not have the power to transform it.”
I’ve never met a Public Defender that would concur with any of those four statements and their warped, ignorant premises (some I’d classify as downright lies). The third (/3) segment of this book wholly undermined the author’s credibility, and leaves the reader feeling hopeless at the criminal justice system’s endless ratchet towards greater punishment, less empathy.
October 4, 2021
As someone who is a public defender, my review may be biased in that regard. Overall, I highly recommend Gideon's Promise to anyone with an interest in criminal justice or criminal justice reform. Non-lawyers and non-public defenders alike would thoroughly enjoy this book. For anyone that does not have the opportunity to see the criminal justice system in court on a daily basis, this book does an excellent job in describing in full how court is done in many places across the United States.
Further, Jonathan Rapping specifically describes the shortcomings in the system as well as points to how to address some of these issues. In addition to describing what public defenders can do better as a whole, Jonathan Rapping also takes the time to describe what prosecutors and judges can do as well. This is all to say it will take more than a public defender to change the culture of criminal justice in America.
Further, Jonathan Rapping specifically describes the shortcomings in the system as well as points to how to address some of these issues. In addition to describing what public defenders can do better as a whole, Jonathan Rapping also takes the time to describe what prosecutors and judges can do as well. This is all to say it will take more than a public defender to change the culture of criminal justice in America.
November 29, 2020
Ever since the first time that he walked into a courtroom at the age of six he wanted to become a lawyer. His parents were Jewish activists in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania who embraced "Tikkun Olam" {we all have a duty to help repair the world}. He and his sister were taught to stand up against opression. So what better way than to become a lawyer. Inspiring. Thankyou Goodreads for this free book.
June 9, 2024
This book presents an important and compelling case for the cultural changes necessary to support public defenders in their constitutional and moral duties to pursue justice within a fundamentally unjust system. My only criticism is that the writing can be a little repetitive at times. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who cares about our broken carceral system, and it has pushed me further to pursue a law degree.
September 21, 2020
Good book about changes that need to be implemented in the public defense realm in order to have a more just legal system. I am a huge Jonathan Rapping fan; I love all he has done to impact public defense in the South so I was VERY EXCITED to read this book! With that being said, I really wanted to like this book, but I feel it fell a little short.
September 17, 2020
Here is my review of this great book! https://gideonssoldiers.com/gideons-p...
March 8, 2021
Eye opening.
February 5, 2022
Powerful. Inspirational. Aspirational. Hopeful, yet practical and clinical in it's approach to justice (and societal) reform.
December 27, 2023
Inspiring and a reminder why I do this work.
September 19, 2020
Fredrick Douglass, W. E. B. Dubois, James Baldwin and countless others have wrote about “america’s lie”, all men our created equal”. The book “Gideon Promise” is about the creation of an organization established to train and advocate for Public Defenders. Public Defenders are attorneys who represent people accused of a crime and can’t afford to hire an attorney.
The Public Defenders, unlike anybody else,, confront “america lie” ( presumption of innocence) numerous times a day. Although the Public Defenders are a small coterie, they represent over 80% of all the people who are accused of crime. They go up against law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the entire criminal justice system, aggressively tearing down the “lie”. The book tells the story of how they are out numbered, out manned, and exceeding out finances, yet every morning they wake up to do battle knowing they on the side of justice.
There have been many martyrs, but ultimately JUSTICE - THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S will win! And, Gideon Promise is a book sounding the trumpet to the path of victory.
The Public Defenders, unlike anybody else,, confront “america lie” ( presumption of innocence) numerous times a day. Although the Public Defenders are a small coterie, they represent over 80% of all the people who are accused of crime. They go up against law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the entire criminal justice system, aggressively tearing down the “lie”. The book tells the story of how they are out numbered, out manned, and exceeding out finances, yet every morning they wake up to do battle knowing they on the side of justice.
There have been many martyrs, but ultimately JUSTICE - THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S will win! And, Gideon Promise is a book sounding the trumpet to the path of victory.
May 8, 2021
Gideon's Promise is Jonathan Rapping's account of his work reforming US public defense through intensive recruitment, training, and management. The focus is on bringing relatively inexperienced attorneys — freshly minted lawyers who haven't yet carved out their approach to criminal defense — from around the country to areas with the weakest public defense systems, teaching them to center clients in their legal practice, encouraging them to see themselves as advocates and storytellers, and providing them with mentors and a support network. Rapping highlights how many public defense systems in the South in particular have been built to fail clients and capitulate to law-and-order agendas rather than to protect people's constitutional rights.
I think this will all feel right on the money to any public defender who sees themselves as playing a role in systemic change. But it doesn't work well as a book for a general audience. Gideon's Promise reads like it should have been a report for public defenders and people who are in a position to advocate for better public defense (judges, lawmakers, etc.). In order to flesh it out as a full-length book of wide interest, Rapping throws in a bunch of watered-down general context about the criminal legal system that is much better dealt with in other books.
Gideon's Promise also falls short for anyone trying to think through public defense from an abolitionist perspective. Rapping's view is that the criminal legal system was made to work through certain checks and balances, and that public defense has not been given its due share of resources to achieve the balance it's supposed to achieve — the standard "the system doesn't work well because we don't put enough effort and resources into it" argument as opposed to the reality that the system was designed to deny people's dignity and humanity to protect certain interests. I appreciate Rapping's optimism about how centering people who need help can make a difference, but I really wished he'd think through his framework in terms of how to create and redistribute resources for a world where people never get to the point of needing a public defender in the first place.
I think this will all feel right on the money to any public defender who sees themselves as playing a role in systemic change. But it doesn't work well as a book for a general audience. Gideon's Promise reads like it should have been a report for public defenders and people who are in a position to advocate for better public defense (judges, lawmakers, etc.). In order to flesh it out as a full-length book of wide interest, Rapping throws in a bunch of watered-down general context about the criminal legal system that is much better dealt with in other books.
Gideon's Promise also falls short for anyone trying to think through public defense from an abolitionist perspective. Rapping's view is that the criminal legal system was made to work through certain checks and balances, and that public defense has not been given its due share of resources to achieve the balance it's supposed to achieve — the standard "the system doesn't work well because we don't put enough effort and resources into it" argument as opposed to the reality that the system was designed to deny people's dignity and humanity to protect certain interests. I appreciate Rapping's optimism about how centering people who need help can make a difference, but I really wished he'd think through his framework in terms of how to create and redistribute resources for a world where people never get to the point of needing a public defender in the first place.
August 9, 2022
Really solidified my career choice for me, which is nice. Love the ideas, don’t love the writing. I do love Jonathan Rapping however. This needs to be required reading for all attorneys and law students.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews