Podcast
Criminal INjustice
Hosted by Casey Krizman · EN
Criminal INjustice spotlights the people and organizations that fight the oppression of our “criminal INjustice system.” Casey Krizman, a criminal defense attorney, is on a mission to tip the scales for the criminally accused. He swaps war stories with his guests as they describe how the system often worsens the impact of crime. How is bail used to criminalize poverty? How do prosecutors get people to plead to crimes they didn’t do? How does the system work to keep people down? And what is being done to dismantle the system? Casey calls listeners to action and this podcast gives you ways to do so.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Councilwoman Gonzales-Gutierrez's 'Justice Gene'
4d ago00:37:45Tap to summarizeDenver Councilwoman Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez never lets go of her last job. Now, as an at-large councilwoman representing all Denver residents, she breaks down barriers she encountered in her previous roles: As an advocate for kids in trouble with the system, for victims of family violence, and for her own kids growing up in Denver. She is one of three councilwomen pushing a municipal court reform bill through the council. The core issue: Jailing people should not be the first and only tool we use in solving the city's problems.
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Are Parolees Ready For The Outside?
Apr 1400:41:57Tap to summarizeJoyBelle Phelan spent seven years incarcerated in the Colorado Department of Corrections. Today she runs Unbound Authors, a writing center active in 13 Colorado state prisons. She joins host Casey Krizman to make the case that the most important reentry skill isn't vocational training or a GED. It's communication. How to write a professional email. How to take feedback. How to work on a team. In this episode, JoyBelle breaks down why the reentry gap is structural, what it costs Colorado communities when over 6,000 people a year leave prison unprepared, and what you can do about it.Resources:Unbound Authors, https://unboundauthors.org/Colorado Radio for Justice: https://www.radioforjustice.org/podcasts
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The lawyers who battle corporations
Mar 400:31:25Tap to summarizePersonal injury attorneys play an important role in fighting the INjustice system. If not for them, people injured by corporations and/or fighting an insurance company would be at the mercy of deep-pocketed corporations with armies of lawyers.In this episode, Casey Krizman sits down with Sean Olson, whose firm helps people injured in hospitals, oil fields, and roadways get their bills paid and reimbursement for other losses. The “PI attorneys” often get a bad rap, but Sean explains how the cases he has handled reinforce his confidence that he is, indeed, balancing the scales of justice for his clients.
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UPDATE: Victory for No More Prisons Coalition
Feb 1000:01:41Tap to summarizeIn this bonus episode of Criminal Injustice, Casey Krizman breaks down a historic win for criminal justice reform in Colorado. For the first time in 25 years, the Joint Budget Committee denied the Department of Corrections' request for 788 new prison beds—a direct result of advocates and lawmakers demanding smarter solutions. Casey explores what's really driving overcrowding, from underfunded parole systems and community corrections to low-level violations sending people back behind bars, and makes the case that common sense and compassion can replace the default impulse to cage more humans.
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Wrongfully Accused: How a Father Fought the System and Won
Oct 2100:28:48Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Criminal INjustice, defense attorney Casey Krizman sits down with fellow trial lawyer Eric Faddis to unpack one of Colorado’s most shocking wrongful prosecution cases. Eric shares the story of a father falsely accused of killing his infant daughter — and how the truth, buried under bias and bureaucracy, finally came to light. Together, Casey and Eric expose the human toll of the criminal INjustice system, the failures of medical and prosecutorial oversight, and the fight for reform inside and outside the courtroom. They discuss: --How tunnel vision and “baby killer” headlines nearly destroyed an innocent man. --What it takes to stand up to powerful prosecutors and expert witnesses. --Why independent medical review boards could save lives — and justice. --The media’s role in shaping public perception of guilt and innocence. If you care about truth, accountability, and real reform, this conversation will hit hard.
Transcribe →Why caging people doesn't work
Sep 300:36:04Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sound the alarm on Colorado politicians' trend toward ineffective "tough on crime” laws. Defense attorney Casey Krizman speaks with Kyle Giddings, a lobbyist for the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition. They unpack how punitive ballot measures and parole maneuvers cause unnecessary caging of humans. For the first time in 22 years, Colorado is faced with having to build more prison cells. Giddings debunks arguments for upcoming ballot measures that would increase sentences for fentanyl and theft, and that would increase the number of defendants caged before trial. Giddings argues in favor of investments in housing, treatment, and reentry. Learn how the No More Prisons Coalition is mobilizing voters to defend reform and fight crime through prevention.To join the No More Prisons coalition: https://www.ccjrc.org/get-involved/ The CCJRC's "Crisis In Corrections" report, January 2024 https://www.ccjrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1-9-24-CCJRC-Crisis-in-Corrections-Inmate-Experience-Report-final-1.pdf
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Flash Update: Muni Court fairness bill vetoed
May 23, 202500:03:19Tap to summarizeCriminal Defense Attorney Casey Krizman says Gov. Jared Polis gives weak reasons for vetoing HB 1147. The bill that would rein in municipal courts that have run amok ensures that sentences handed down in those courts are equal across the state. But Polis relies on phony reasoning put forth by city councils that want to criminalize poverty. Rather than address the root causes of homelessness, they are setting ridiculously high sentences for petty theft and trespassing. Crimes that the state says are punishable by 10 days in jail are getting 365 days in jail in some municipalities (looking at you, Aurora).
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Fighting Municipal Court INjustice
Apr 30, 202500:24:20Tap to summarizeHost Casey Krizman interviews Representative Javier Mabrey about House Bill 1147, which addresses Colorado's inconsistent municipal court system. Mabrey explains how location determines sentencing severity, with poverty-related offenses receiving harsher penalties depending on jurisdiction. The bill aims to standardize sentencing guidelines and protect due process rights for all Coloradans. Mabrey, raised in poverty and now an eviction attorney, continues fighting for economic justice and criminal system reform. Show notes: Write to support HB 1147, the Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Courts Act, at: GovernorPolis@state.co.us Javier Mabrey's organization to fight for economic justice is the Community Economic Defense Project, https://cedproject.org/ #CriminalJusticeReform #ColoradoLaw #SentencingReform #DueProcess
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CBI evidence tampering
Apr 4, 202500:46:03Tap to summarizeVeteran defense attorney Mary Claire Mulligan says the state Legislature should shut down the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and “rebuild from scratch.” The lab where crime evidence has been mishandled for more than 10 years has not responded adequately to the scandal and lawmakers have not done enough to rectify the problems it created, Mulligan said in an interview on the podcast “Criminal INjustice with Casey Krizman.”Mulligan, who has been a defense attorney for 33 years, said the state should take these steps:Shut down CBI completely and rebuild from scratch.Demand complete transparency and access to all CBI data.Appoint a special master to oversee case reviews.Fund post-conviction attorneys to handle affected cases.Urge state lawmakers to hold CBI accountable.For those who believe their cases may have been affected, Mulligan recommends:Contacting their original lawyer or another criminal defense attorney.Filing a Form 4 (Petition for Post-Conviction Relief) with the court.Contacting the public defender system and the alternate defense counsel, letting them know of your situation because “the squeaky wheel gets the grease here.”
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Immigrant INjustice
Mar 3, 202500:24:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Criminal INjustice, Trial Attorney Casey Krizman interviews Immigration Attorney Andrew Younkins. They cover a lot of ground, including what people concerned about getting caught in the ICE dragnet should do. Key point: Immigrants who have attorneys are many times more likely to win their right to stay in the country and to be released from ICE prison. Unfortunately, very few people caught in the ICE dragnet have access to lawyers and often spend months in ICE prison waiting for their day in immigration court.People concerned about the issue of immigrant rights may donate money or time to these organizations:Colorado Immigrant Justice Fund, a pool of donated money used to pay for legal representation for immigrants.Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, which provides low-cost or no-cost legal representation to immigrants.Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, a umbrella organization for groups working on immigrant rights across the state. They also provide training and preparedness documents.People concerned about getting stopped by authorities and questioned about immigrant status should carry a “Red Card / Tarjetas Rojas,” which lists what to do and your rights in these situations. The card is available several places online, including here. Andrew Younkins can be reached at 720-310-5162, 14261 E. Fourth Ave., Suite 6-307, aly-law.com.
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