SCJN-NEWS
July 15, 2010
Volume 5, Number 4


In This Issue...
SCJN Conference
    The 9th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
    This year marks the 9th Annual NACDL State Criminal Justice Network Conference (SCJN). The theme this year is entitled Inform, Influence, Impact: Effective Criminal Justice Reform. The event kicks-off Wednesday, October 6, 2010, with a free Authors Pavilion and reception hosted by OSI-DC Justice Roundtables’ Conversation on Justice Series. The event will feature authors of recent criminal justice books. In addition, Teaching for Change bookseller will be on hand to sell related publications.

    The SCJN conference is scheduled     October 7-8, 2010, from 9:00 am-6:00 pm at American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington, DC, located at 4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016. Please visit American University Washington College of Law's Website here.

    Details about the Authors Pavilion will be forthcoming.

    For registration information about the SCJN Conference, please click here.

    To view the draft agenda, which is subject to change, please click here.

    For more information, please visit the Website at     www.nacdl-statecrimjustice.org or contact State Legislative Affairs Director Angelyn Frazer at angelyn@nacdl.org or (202) 872-8600 x242.
Update: JRJ Prosecutor and Defender Incentive Act Funding - New Deadline: July 27, 2010
    States and the District of Columbia Must Apply By July 27, 2010 (extended from July 13)

    NACDL has been working to ensure swift and fair implementation of the     John R. Justice Prosecutor and Defender Incentive Act, which would provide up to $10,000 per year (with a lifetime cap of $60,000) in student loan repayment assistance for public defenders and prosecutors who agree to maintain those jobs for at least 3 years. Congress approved $10 million in FY 2010 funding for this program.

    The Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance has posted the grant solicitation, and     state applications, including the District of Columbia, are due July 27. This means the states need to act very quickly to appoint an agency to oversee the program so they can get their application in on time. Several states have already designated agencies to operate the program; to see if your state has taken this step, please click here.

    States without designated agencies are below (as of July 2, 2010):

    • Alaska
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • District of Columbia
    • Georgia
    • Indiana
    • Louisiana
    • Massachusetts
    • North Dakota
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Utah
    • Virginia

    Additional information is available online at the BJA     Website, including a direct link to the states' 2010 share of the funding. Note that your state’s money will be forfeited unless it files a timely application.

    In addition,     CLICK HERE to see the plan Illinois has developed for implementing the program. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission has also created a Website with information about the program, which can be viewed here.

    Missing at this point is the application that individuals will use to apply for benefits. ISAC hopes to have it available on their Website in late July.

    Please arrange for someone to contact your state’s governor’s office to ensure that they designate an agency to apply for funding by July 27 and administer the program. Unless you have easy access to your governor or high-level staff, it might be best to coordinate with your local chief public defender, prosecutor and bar leaders to select a point-person.

    Please help NACDL make this program a success in its first year. We want to continue and expand this program, increasing the funding over time, but that won’t be possible if the states don’t apply this year.

    If you have any questions, please contact NACDL's Associate Executive Director for Policy Kyle O'Dowd at     kyle@nacdl.org.
NACDL Seeks Members for Juvenile Justice Committee
    NACDL is in search of members for the Juvenile Justice Committee. In order to be on the Committee we ask you to be a member of the organization and have an interest in juvenile justice issues and/or be litigating on behalf of juveniles. NACDL, President-Elect Jim Lavine, will be making appointments to the Committee shortly after he is sworn in as President in August.

    If you are interested, please contact State Legislative Affairs Director Angelyn Frazer ASAP at angelyn@nacdl.org.
Michigan Cultural Competency Short Questionnaire
    As many of you know, Michigan’s public defense system has been repeatedly singled out as one of the worst in the country. The Michigan Campaign has been working on legislation that would achieve both the funding and structural reforms necessary. As a part of this legislative effort, the Campaign has embarked upon a study of cultural competency resources and trainings around the country that would aid public defenders in their efforts to defend diverse and indigent clients. Click here for a short questionnaire we hope you review and answer on behalf of the campaign. If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Chang at (313) 31-5666.

    Please forward your responses to Stephanie Chang at schang@mijustice.org, Michigan Campaign for Justice 403 Seymour, Suite 201, Lansing, MI 48933.
Latest NACDL State Website Posts
Questions, comments, or news items?
    Hit "reply" or call NACDL's State Legislative Affairs Director Angelyn Frazer at (202) 872-8600 x242.

    www.nacdl.org




National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
1660 L St., NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 872-8600 • Fax (202) 872-8690 • assist@nacdl.org