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Podcast Episode

I Went Through The Justice System And All I Got Was A Branded Stress Ball

The Defendants··2 August 2026·21 min

About this episode

We’re talking about what survivors actually get out of the justice system and what they want out of it. Key Topics 0:13 - Jane's trial 1:47 - Chanel Miller: guilty verdict, insufficient sentence 4:14 - What survivors want: accountability 5:36 - Denial as a second victimization 6:22 - Restorative justice 8:22 - Surrogates for when direct dialogue isn't safe or possible 11:51 - Civil litigation 13:51 - Contingency fees and the cost barrier 15:01 - NDAs and victim silence 17:22 - A new system: accountability over punishment All sources, statistics, multimedia clips, and music credits are available on Substack. About The Defendants The Defendants is a podcast exploring how sexual assault cases move through the justice system… and why it never seems to work in favour of victims. We want to know what has to change within the system for it to actually work, and we are interrogating what justice means in the aftermath of trauma. This is a podcast where we figure out exactly how this system fails, why, and what to do about it. Support This Project Thanks for listening and being a part of this conversation. This is a completely grassroots, independent podcast. Your support directly funds our ability to continue.  Subscribe to our Substack for additional content and ongoing conversations. We also have a mail club! Get monthly artwork and letters to continue the conversation… offline, where the best communities are built. Make a one-time donation. Visit: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedefendants Subscribe to this show on your preferred podcast platform Apple | Spotify Share with a friend and help grow the conversation Get in Touch Questions or ideas about the show? defendantspodoutreach@protonmail.com Follow on Instagram: @thedefendantspodcast | @jane_aster_roe Media appearances: daltonhiggins@gmail.com Resources for Survivors SA Survivor Resource Document - This document contains Canadian, U.S, and global sources to find guidance, information, and aid for survivors of sexual assault. Detailed descriptions of each resource within the document. Our Team Jane Aster Roe - Executive Producer, Host Rachel Arundel - Executive Producer Katie Jensen - Executive Producer, Editor, Sound Designer Jessica Strachan - Story Producer Charlotte Gregg - Research Producer Isis Madrid - Editor, Sound Designer Rachel Bromberg - Fact Checker Dawson Fleming - Production Assistant Michelle Crossman - Mental Health Consultant Lindsey Keene - Outreach Coordinator Cheryl Grossman - Legal Dalton Higgins - Publicity Kathlyn Gardner - Events Thank you for listening. Be kind to yourself and to one another.