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Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Tom Weitzel

Broken public defense system hurts both victims and those accused of crimes

Police
Thomas Wortham III, father of slain Chicago Police Officer Thomas Wortham IV, holds back tears while speaking about his son who was murdered during a failed armed robbery in 2010. The family is still awaiting closure in the case as the conviction of on of his killers was overturned by a state appellate court. (Sun-Times files)

I spent 37 years as a cop and I’ve arrested men and women responsible for all sorts of crimes, from theft to assault, rape and murder. I believe that good policing is essential to keeping our communities safe. And that’s why I don’t say this lightly: Our public defense system is broken, and the damage is harming both those who are accused of crimes and those victimized by them.

It’s time to fix it.

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