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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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.
The NACDL Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award recognizes an individual or group whose exceptional efforts have led toward progressive reform of a state criminal justice system.
Conference information and resources relevant to the panels presented at the 22nd Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference, which will be held virtually August 16-17, 2023.
NACDL’s unique State Criminal Justice Network (SCJN) provides a medium to exchange information, share resources, and develop strategies for promoting rational and humane criminal justice policies. In addition, it seeks to educate the general public about the many issues that influence, and policies that affect the criminal justice system. As a result, the Network does not require membership in the organization.
To join the Network, go to nacdl.org/JoinSCJN.
Every year, NACDL brings together advocates from around the country for our annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference. This conference offers participants an opportunity to hear from experts on state criminal justice reform and the opportunity to network with like-minded advocates.
NACDL’s 22nd Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference was held virtually on August 16-17, 2023. Here you will find the conference agenda and buttons to access the conference materials, speaker biographies, and other resources.
Speaker biographies for panelists and moderators at the 2023 State Criminal Justice Network Conference.
Fill out this form to provide information on the legislative action item that you would like NACDL to collaborate on and disseminate.
Meet NACDL’s State Legislative Advocacy Team, who works with NACDL’s network of state affiliate and partner organizations to advance criminal legal reform at the state level.
The National Association of Defense Lawyers (NACDL) respectfully submits the following comments on the Commission’s possible policy priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2024.
We are deeply concerned about the devastating impact of proposed cuts to the federal indigent defense system. … Unless corrected, these cuts could cause the loss of 9-12% of current federal defender staff—even after defenders cut critical programming such as training and IT improvements. Such layoffs would almost certainly decimate the federal defender system, degrade the overall quality of federal indigent defense, and undermine the administration of justice for countless federal defendants. …
NACDL's State Criminal Justice Network Newsletter features a snapshot of NACDL's state criminal justice priorities, as well as recent internal and external reports, information on upcoming events, webinars, current state legislative reform efforts, legislative tracking, action alerts and more! The newsletter is disseminated monthly via email.
Conference information and resources relevant to the panels presented at the 21st Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference, which was held August 11-12, 2022 at The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida.
Conference information and resources relevant to the panels presented at the 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference, which was held as a live virtual online event on August 17-19, 2020.
We are deeply concerned about the devastating impact of cuts proposed by the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government on the federal indigent defense system. The House subcommittee’s mark is $122 million less than requested and could cause the loss of 9% of current federal defender staff. Such layoffs would almost certainly decimate the federal defender system, degrade the overall quality of federal indigent defense, and undermine the administration of justice.
NACDL’s unique State Criminal Justice Network (SCJN) provides a medium to exchange information, share resources, and develop strategies for promoting rational and humane criminal justice policies. In addition, it seeks to educate the general public about the many issues that influence, and policies that affect the criminal justice system. As a result, the Network does not require membership in the organization.