Public Defender steps down, puts new focus on community

STANFORD — After more than three decades in the Dutchess County Public Defender’s office, Stanfordville’s Tom Angell stepped down at the end of last year to open a part time private practice and spend more time with his children and grandchildren.

A graduate of Rhinebeck High School, Angell has lived in the Hudson Valley since he was 11 years old. After attending Earlham College and Hofstra University Law School, Angell returned to Dutchess County, where he first joined the public defender’s office in 1989 as senior assistant public defender. In 2004, he was appointed chief assistant public defender, after which he became acting public defender in 2011 and public defender in 2013.

Reflecting on his time in the public defender’s office, Angell emphasized what a privilege it was to work with people who had been charged with crimes. He was interested in becoming a public defender from a young age, inspired by the prospect of doing good for people who were less fortunate than he was. Most of his clients were part of the local community, and he noted that it was a privilege to stand up for people who were looked down upon and watch them transform their lives, using their skills to better themselves and contribute to the communities they lived in.

Through his career at the Public Defender’s office, Angell recognized a change in the attitude toward substance abuse and mental health problems within the justice system. He noted that while there is now more recognition and understanding of the role that they play, there has been little systemic progress in actually addressing or changing the way that the courts interact with these issues. Despite this, he acknowledges the importance of the strides made in treatment options and “treatment courts,” programs through which defendants convicted of certain nonviolent substance-related crimes may opt to receive a reduced sentence in exchange for participating in court-supervised treatment. Angell was particularly enthusiastic about these programs, as he believes that it is often counterproductive to send people to prison for extended periods of time.

In addition to new perspectives on mental health and substance abuse, Angell recognized an improvement in the way that the impact of race in the courts has been discussed, but again acknowledged a lack of systemic change.

Despite his recent departure from his role as Public Defender, Angell is far from finished turning out for his community. A strong believer in the importance of farming and rural communities, he recognizes the role that farms play for everyone, not just those living in rural communities.

“The heart of America is its rural communities,” he said. “When the rural communities are strong, America is strong.”

Currently serving as the chairman of the Dutchess County Agricultural Society’s scholarship committee, Angell is especially passionate about involving younger people in the world of agriculture.

“Children who are raised in farm families have a tremendous amount to offer society,” Angell said.

Angell has also brought some of his community involvement closer to home. He continues to live at Bentley Farm, which his family has owned for nearly a century. He once welcomed students to the farm from a charter school in Harlem, some of whom he said had never set foot on grass and received immense joy from rolling down the hills. Angell also serves as the chairman of Stanfordville’s planning board and zoning commission, where he is working to establish a right to farm law. Most importantly, since leaving the Public Defender’s office he has been spending far more time with his children and grandchildren.