Characters in my books have jobs that matter to them. In Unholy Alliance the lawyer hero, Grady Donahue Fletcher, appeals cases of the poor and wrongly accused. In this romantic thriller he is a tough, formidable protagonist who believes an advanced society should not be comfortable with the way a country punishes crime. In the book Grady Fletcher represents a different marginalized person, a mobsters daughter accused of murder.
What about all the people in prison who don’t have enough money to hire top defense attorneys?
The US locks up too many people for too long, and often treats them poorly. I’m glad to see improvement which comes from the Koch brothers, the American Civil Liberties Union, and others in between. Here is an eye-popping fact: the US makes up 5% of the world’s population but houses 25% of the prison population. Harsh sentences are handed out for non-violent drug crime sentences. The Black population is hit the hardest. See data below:
| Race, ethnicity | % of US population | % of U.S. incarcerated population |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 64 | 39 |
| Hispanic | 16 | 19 |
| Black | 13 | 40 |
Chatting with Kathleen Rowland 
Reblogged this on brennanwrites and commented:
Those who have money for the best representation often win although they are guilty. The new TV show is an example of how money can sway the jury. So sad.
Those who have money for the best representation often win although they are guilty. The new TV show is an example of how money can sway the jury. So sad.
You are so right, Joyce Brennan. Money means better representation for sure! Thx for posting.