Renewed War on Drugs, harsher charging policies, stepped-up criminalization of immigrants — in the current climate, joining the NACDL is more important than ever. Members of NACDL help to support the only national organization working at all levels of government to ensure that the voice of the defense bar is heard.
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NACDL is committed to enhancing the capacity of the criminal defense bar to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights.
NACDL harnesses the unique perspectives of NACDL members to advocate for policy and practice improvements in the criminal legal system.
NACDL envisions a society where all individuals receive fair, rational, and humane treatment within the criminal legal system.
NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal legal system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense bar are fully equipped to serve all accused persons at the highest level.
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Despite the evidentiary support for counsel at first appearance (CAFA), not all local officials are persuaded of its benefits. Trisha Trigilio summarizes wisdom from defenders who have implemented boundary-pushing CAFA and early representation programs without a statewide mandate or court order.
Find training materials and resources to assist attorneys in providing high quality representation as part of the Texas Counsel At First Appearance (CAFA) Project.
Featuring Wade Banium, Bail Division Chief, and Sarah Wood, General Counsel, Harris County Public Defender’s Office. Discussion moderated by Bonnie Hoffman, Senior Director of Public Defense, NACDL
22nd Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference August 16-17, 2023 | Held Virtually
Despite assurances that, “[I]n our society, liberty is the norm, and detention prior to trial…the carefully limited exception,” over 75 percent of those detained in local jails have not been convicted of a crime.
Powerpoint slides by Melinda Pendergraph. Presented at the NACDL Post-Dobbs Defender Skills Summit in July 2023
Powerpoint slides by Emma Roth. Presented at the NACDL Post-Dobbs Defender Skills Summit in July 2023
Back on November 4, 2022, NACDL’s then President Nellie L. King wrote to Director Peters to amplify the association’s call for (1) permitting privileged and unmonitored email communications between attorneys and clients in both pretrial and post-conviction settings and (2) for a “help desk” to facilitate scheduling of privileged attorney-client telephone calls.
We have seen the DOJ Advisory Group’s July 20, 2023, Report and Recommendations... In general, we think many of the recommendations are sensible. But some of them are troubling.
Additional resources on pretrial practices and policies
NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually Data Driven Policies: Criminal Justice Data Collection
NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually Lessons Learned: Combatting Misinformation Around Bail Reform- Case Study on the New York Bail Reform Pushback
An important discussion on the ways in which systemic racism manifests itself in the pretrial process and how we can work towards change.
Presented by Isaac Bryan, Master of Public Policy candidate, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Race Matters II: The Impact of Race on Criminal Justice January 10-11, 2019 | Los Angeles, CA
Charging Decisions: Policy presented by Angela J. Davis, Professor of Law, American University College of Law
Race Matters I: The Impact of Race on Criminal Justice September 14-15, 2017 | Detroit, MI
Bond: Practice presented by Colette Tvedt, criminal defense attorney, Denver, CO
Bond: Policy presented by Brandon Buskey, Deputy Director for Smart Justice Litigation, Criminal Law Reform Project, American Civil Liberties Union