Reforming criminal defense

Ashoka Fellow, Geneva, Switzerland


Karen witnessed a problem early in her life: in many countries, suspects in the criminal defense system are denied their legal rights without recourse. Suspects are taken into custody without charges; investigators extract information with torture; defendants have no legal counsel. With training and experience in law and legal reform, Karen created a global movement to improve criminal defense systems, focusing on due process and the rights of the accused.

Karen's organization, International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), works with governments to develop their criminal justice systems. She concentrates on the nuts and bolts of systemic reform: rooms for attorney/client consultation; case tracking systems; agreements with police to inform suspects of their rights. As she creates more transparent legal systems, she fosters a political environment that can better support economic development and foreign investment.

IBJ currently works in China, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It is the first citizen-sector organization to have a formal agreement to work with China's legal aid bureaus on criminal law. Now IBJ has access to 8,000 defenders in these 3 countries, who in turn serve over 1.3 billion people.

Karen is capturing a ripe opportunity in countries poised between economic development and a lagging legal system. She is the architect of a revolution underway in reforming legal rights.

Speech Topics

• Rule of Law
• Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
• Legal Defense