From College Capstone to Tech Startup: How JusticeText Increases Equity in the Criminal Justice System

Devshi Mehrotra and Leslie Jones-Dove join host Brenda Darden Wilkerson on this inspiring episode of “B The Way Forward.” Devshi and Leslie are the CEO and CTO, respectively, and co-founders of JusticeText, an MIT and Google-backed startup that is building technology to better improve the criminal justice system. They talk Brenda through the mission of their company – to hold law enforcement accountable and ensure that low-income criminal defendants get their chance at an equal and fair trial. JusticeText started as a college capstone project and has now grown into a successful California-based startup.

Devshi and Leslie explain how their program takes media files and evidence and creates transcriptions that help public defenders analyze data before trials. They share personal and emotional stories with Brenda about the positive impact that JusticeText has had on public defenders, their clients and families. Plus, they share business insights into how they started their company and what it’s been like to fundraise, work with investors, and build their brand. Devshi and Leslie’s passions to improve the criminal justice system shine through this episode and you will leave the conversation feeling motivated to pursue dreams that can make the world a better place.

“I think there’s no excuse in this day and age for our government systems to be relying on such inadequate technology systems. So, I think there’s a lot for us to be wary of when it comes to facial recognition, gang databases, things like that, but I think we should also just focus on: how do we build tools for the people who are advocating for everyday people?”

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At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.

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Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.

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B The Way Forward Is…

Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige Hymson

Sound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond 

Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski 

Associate Producer is Faith Krogulecki

Executive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine 

Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.org

Podcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.org

Photo of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media Productions

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