Interview with Thomas Sone, Public Defender- San Bernardino County

Featuring Public Defender Thomas Sone from the Law Offices of the Public Defender for San Bernardino County

Transcript

Interview with public defender Thomas Sone

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

san bernardino county, community, individuals, public defender, county, public defender's office, task force, youth, collaborating, services, hear, divert, partnerships, partners, thomas, exciting, opportunity, gangs, board, criminal justice system

SPEAKERS

Thomas, Don

Don  00:04

Hello, my name is Don English director of Children Deserve Success and Executive Director of the San Bernardino county wide Gangs and Drugs Task Force. And we welcome you to our Children Deserve Success Podcast. Twice a month, we will be sending out these recordings regarding all things related to child welfare and attendance, school attendance Review Board, foster youth services, McKinney Vento Homeless programs in our county, and the San Bernardino county wide Gangs and Drugs Task Force. This months focus will be an interview with the San Bernardino County Public Defender, Thomas Sone. Thomas. Welcome. And I appreciate you coming down today for this all important podcast.

Thomas  00:47

Thank you. I appreciate you having me. 

Don  00:49

Absolutely. So with that, let's go ahead and jump into it. So if you would please share your background as it relates to your career in public service. 

Thomas  00:57

Yeah, so I went to law school in San Diego. My intention when I went to law school was to go into public service and join the public defender's office started off after I graduated from the civil service in Rails civil firm and realize that wasn't for me, I made some money saved it up. San Bernardino County gave me an opportunity. Joining the public defender's office here over 20 years ago, I worked my way up the ranks from the entry level DPD. Eight years ago, gone to management when I was promoted to Chief Deputy public defender ran several divisions. Two years ago, I promoted to the assistant public defender position. And just recently, in April this year, I was fortunate enough to be appointed the public defender of the county. And throughout that time, we built relationships, partnerships, collaborated with other county agencies and nonprofits. 

Don  01:53

Wow. So with that, is there anything you may have left out that you would say prepared you for your current work as the newly appointed public defender?

Thomas  02:02

Yeah, I think it's the way that I was raised. My mom, when I was a child, you know, I was raised by single mother, my dad passed away when I was three months old. My mom was the first in our family to immigrate to the United States barely spoke the language. She was a mother of two kids. And, you know, we had our struggles. And there's a point that I remember when we were growing up that social services and law enforcement was involved. And there was a time that they could have decided to take us away from my mom, and broken up our family. But for one reason or another, the law enforcement officer and the social service worker decided to provide services, and kept our family together. My mom took advantage of those services. And that has a had a huge impact as to me and my sister getting to where we're at today. And I'd like to think that the same thing would happen today in today's society. But I'm also not naive to say that if I was a different race, that would have happened, if I was from a different community, the same thing would have happened. So I think that kind of shaped me to be the voice for those that don't, and to help those out in our community.

Don  03:28

When you talk about our community, what are three areas of need that you see, that have been illuminated by the pandemic?

Thomas  03:37

So I think when I look at it, from the public defender's office, specifically in law and justice, I think it's access to justice, that was really highlighted by the pandemic, where individuals who needed to be in court to be heard, didn't have that access. I think what helped our county out is that the public defender's office was this our counties was the first county to be fully digital. That was with the support of the board of supervisors and the CAO's. Office from years ago. So that put us ahead of a lot of other counties where we were able to do a lot of the hearings, virtually because we were already set to do that. I think another area is communication, just communicating with communities. I think a lot of times when individuals hear public defender's office, there's a misconception or misperception of who we are what we do. You're absolutely right that we represent individuals and core. But what people don't, I think ever hear about is we have social workers. We try to provide services beyond the courtroom. Juveniles students, try to get them into school prevent them from being suspended to divert them, try to get them on the right track. So I think it's just that being more visible in the community, trying to explain to everybody what services that we provide. But most importantly, I think it's just to listen, and to listen to what the community tells us that they need from us. I think that was a huge missing component that we're starting to understand.

Don  05:18

Well, Thomas, so it's obvious that you know, you have a heart for the community and those who are underserved. while defending constitutional rights and pursuing justice through excellent representation. Perhaps you've had the opportunity to observe the San Bernardino County Wide Gangs and Drugs Task Force, a partner with the San Bernardino County Public Defender's department, how has that worked, shaped your view of various partners, including business and community education entities, faith based organizations, family outreach, local government legislators, drug prevention organizations, health and wellness organizations, all of which are represented on the executive board for the task force.

Thomas  06:02

Yeah, I think it's really important, all those agencies that he talked about and partnerships, we wouldn't be able to do what we do or reach the communities. Without those partnerships and collaborations. There is any way you put it, there's a distrust, there's a distrust of government, right? We need to build those relationships, so that those organizations who have already built those trust's with communities, that they help us lead the way, and help build those trust's with the people that we need as well. There are partnerships that are. So you know, it's so obvious, and that we never do. Let's talk about, I know one of the people that sits on the board as Young Visionaries in Terrance Stone, we collaborate with them and trying to reach the youth of our communities. So I think it's just a natural fit. And I think everybody understands that everybody has a different role. But where we can work together to accomplish something will be more efficient, we can do a lot of good. So it's exciting. All these partnerships are exciting, and we need to take advantage.

Don  07:09

And you bring up Terrance and his service, I have the opportunity to serve on his board of VIP, Violence Intervention and Prevention Program that has a real stake in the community that actually go out to the community deal with some of those members of our community that have been, I should say, that have been negatively affected by crime, some who actually took a part in that crime, criminal activity, and some who were just innocent bystanders. And he is an ex officio of the task force. And so I'm really thrilled to hear that you've been working and collaborating with him and others in our community. As you interact with members of the community, how are you able to continue to delivered your message with energy and passion?

Thomas  07:58

You know, it's, I tell my family all the time, that when I don't have that energy and passion to do what I do anymore, it's time to look to do something different, right? What we're asked to do with my attorneys, my staff, my team, it's not easy work. But we directly impact individuals and their lives. And a lot of times individuals liberty is at stake, their future is at stake, and how that person is going to be shaped if they're a young individual, right? We're going to impact all that. If I can't keep that passion up, or if my team can't keep the passion up. We shouldn't be doing what we're doing. Period. You know, what I also learned recently is from our community members, it's as easy as just listening to them, hearing them out, giving them my time, and that appreciation that individuals have when you treat them as human and an individual. You've listened to them. You might not agree with everything, but just to be heard is so important. And to me, that in and of itself should be self motivation.

Don  09:11

We talked earlier about the collaboration between different entities throughout the county that some counties don't enjoy. So some counties are at odds with, for instance, you will be at odds with the district attorney to talk a little bit about the difference in this county and other counties that you've seen.

Thomas  09:33

Yeah, I think it's we're a very unique county. And when I talk about our Law and Justice Committee, it's made up of the Public Defender, District Attorney probation, behavioral health, the courts, the sheriff's, public health and the sales office and we really work well together. And you know, I've said this before a couple of events that I went to the at the detention centers and ice said, How often do you see the sheriff and the public defender in the same room, working to try and solve or working towards the same goal, you won't see that in other counties. But in our county, there is a good understanding that we all have our roles, nothing is personal. When we have a common goal, we're able to work together to be more efficient and achieve that goal. But when it comes time when we disagree, we'll fight we'll litigate. We'll resolve it in another manner. But it's not personal. And I think that is something that's really unique about the way that we're able to get things accomplished. You know, it's kind of one of the things that we talked about earlier, about members of the San Bernardino County Gangs Drug Task Force. You know, we've partnered up with not only all these other county agencies, but as he talked about Young Visionaries, but one of our biggest partners is the faith based organizations, right? The churches, we recently did two events where we partnered up with the first district, fifth district and put on events where we not only did a record clearing event, to try and expunge individuals records. We've worked with Workforce Development, was able to bring in employers. Down here in San Bernardino, I think we serviced somewhere around 600 to 700 residents. In the high desert in Victorville. With Abundant Living, we assisted somewhere around 350-400 individuals, and they were offered jobs on the spot. So when you work with organizations that traditionally you wouldn't see collaborating, but when you get them all together, wow, it's incredible the things that you can accomplish,

Don  11:40

That is really exciting, and to really have a direct impact. As a 28 year educator, I've always worked with marginalized youth, and families, those subgroups that are traditionally underrepresented. And so everything that you're saying and kind of speaks to the fact that we need to support those groups to make our community better, stronger. And a place where we want to work live and play which would be San Bernardino County. Last question I have for you, Thomas, how do you perceive the current social climate in San Bernardino County? And what role can The Gangs and Drugs Task Force serve, to assist in bridging the gap as it relates to community relations?

Thomas  12:22

I think we are in a, we have a unique opportunity right now. With laws that are being passed, we have an opportunity to make a huge impact on our youth. And our communities. I think, you know, something that comes to mind right now is to work in collaboration with the task force to be able to divert individuals away from the criminal justice system, get involved sooner at an earlier stage, right? Don't even want to give that youth a look at what that criminal justice system looks like to have them you know, stereotyped or you know, it has a very negative impact. So I think, to be able to take full advantage of the laws, partnerships, get the youth really early, find ways to divert, keep them in school away from gangs. I think that's the biggest impact we can make right now.

Don  13:17

I tell you Thomas, we look forward to working with the public defender's office as we move forward, really exciting to make this connection between you and I. And just appreciate your time and your work. And you say 20 years, that's not a short amount of time to really be invested in something that you said earlier, directly affecting lives. And you talk about the youth and I think the youth us targeting the youth is really vital. Because of course, that's going to be our future, yours in mind, and hopefully, the residents of San Bernardino. So with that, I want to thank you once again, and I want to thank you all for listening. We hope you find this exciting information valuable. If you have any topics or questions that you would like addressed, please email them directly to cwa@sbcss.net. As always, we hope you stay well. And as you continue to transform lives through education remember, the business of education is about people.