The Guardian · US news · Original story
Falsely charged with a crime, no way to fight it: inside Oregon’s court crisis
An attorney shortage has left thousands trapped in criminal cases without lawyers. One wrongfully accused woman had no choice but to wait
Corshelle Jenkins was charged with a crime she didn’t commit – and now, there was a warrant for her arrest.
In May 2025, the 36-year-old Portland resident received a letter saying she had been arrested for theft, and after failing to appear in court, police were instructed to take her to jail. The mother of six was stunned. She had never been arrested for stealing. She assumed a visit to court would prove it was a case of mistaken identity.
Continue reading...
Sam Levin in Portland, Oregon with photographs by Amanda Lucier · Tue, Apr 28, 2026, 4:00 AM
US news | The Guardian
An attorney shortage has left thousands trapped in criminal cases without lawyers. One wrongfully accused woman had no choice but to wait
Corshelle Jenkins was charged with a crime she didn’t commit – and now, there was a warrant for her arrest.
In May 2025, the 36-year-old Portland resident received a letter saying she had been arrested for theft, and after failing to appear in court, police were instructed to take her to jail. The mother of six was stunned. She had never been arrested for stealing. She assumed a visit to court would prove it was a case of mistaken identity.
Continue reading...This page shows an excerpt; reporting belongs to the original publisher. Some images or embeds may be omitted compared with the live article.
← More stories · Front page
