THE
KINCADE
SOCIETY
How we make a difference...
These are examples of pro bono services for people in need. As these cases show, justice is possible but not without the financial support of people who sincerely care and want to see justice served, not only for the privileged few who can afford it but for all members of society. Names are altered to protect identities and preserve privacy.
Mike was an all-around good kid. A senior in high school with good grades, Mike had aspirations to go to college once he graduated. But Mike was also young and impressionable. He started hanging around a less than stellar individual who happened to be a drug dealer. One night, Mike and this dealer consumed magic mushrooms (shrooms) and ended up walking into an elderly man’s home thinking it was Mike’s home. Mike went to the back bedroom to sleep, thinking it was his bed. The dealer, who was also on several other drugs, ran around the house like a madman, breaking things and rearranging the furniture. The elderly man who actually owned the house was terrified and called the police. Mike and the dealer were charged by the police with burglary, breaking and entering, and several other serious crimes. Mike was looking at minimum 10 years in prison for his part in this drug-induced home invasion. In a pro bono investigation, evidence was collected showing that Mike’s part in the mistaken home debacle did not meet the criteria for the charges he faced, and that Mike did not have a history of behavior that suggested this was anything other than stupid choices and wrong friends. Because of this pro bono investigation, Mike’s charges were dropped from serious prison time for multiple felonies to some probation for misdemeanors.
Miranda was only 18 when her dad was struck by a drunk driver while walking home. The impact shattered his facial bones, severed his left leg, and required multiple reconstructive surgeries. Despite these surgeries, he died of his injuries. Miranda was close with her father, and his death left a void in her life. She began drinking heavily to cope with her loss and was subsequently charged with driving under the influence (DUI) on two separate occasions. The second DUI offense carried jail time and the local judge looked like he was going to apply the maximum penalty for the offense. But the judge didn’t have all of the facts to give context to the situation, and Miranda didn’t have money for an attorney to represent her. In a pro bono investigation, evidence was collected that showed Miranda was not a fundamentally bad person and didn’t have a criminal past. This investigation also documented the horrible and traumatizing details of the accident involving her father through police records, pictures, and witness statements. Because of this pro bono investigation, the judge reduced Miranda’s punishment to probation instead of jail time with a large fine.
Mae, an elderly woman with limited means, was injured at her job through no fault of her own as a result of poor management on the part of her employer. The employer offered to cover Mae’s medical expenses for a couple months but refused to pay out other worker’s compensation benefits for the workplace injury. However, Mae’s doctor indicated that her injuries would require up to a year of medical treatment, possibly longer. But the employer refused to extend medical payments past two months. Mae had lost her one job and was unable to work at all now due to her injuries. In a pro bono investigation, records were requested that revealed negligence on the part of the employer. Because of this pro bono investigation, the employer granted Mae two years of medical payments and three years of pay for her inability to work due to its negligence.
Patty was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her…until it was shattered by the sudden and horrific death of her fiancé. He was shot in the head by an armed assailant and died while sitting in his front living room. Patty had, unfortunately, witnessed this brutal murder. But the police did not have enough evidence necessary to convict the assailant, so he remained free. After months of torment by the assailant who stalked and threatened her, and with nowhere to turn for help, Patty began drinking heavily and hiding away in her home in fear for her life. In a pro bono investigation, evidence was collected that confirmed the stalking and threats. This time the police decided to press criminal charges against the assailant. He was convicted for these offenses and sent to prison based on the evidence from the pro bono investigation. Patty still struggles with the trauma but began socializing more and integrating back into society now that the assailant was no longer a threat.