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 justice system.
NACDL envisions a society where all individuals receive fair, rational, and humane treatment within the criminal justice system.
NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal justice 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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Report of the Sex Offender Policy Task Force reflecting NACDL's policy on sex offender registries and other practices as adopted by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors adopted a resolution by the Executive Committee to create an advisory board for the Law Enforcement Accountability Project.
The Board of Directors adopted a resolution authorizing the allocation of funds for systemic public defense litigation from Fiscal Year 2021 through Fiscal Year 2023.
NACDL will seek to advance the measures and principles embodied in the model reform legislation.
NACDL encourages counsel not to abdicate their responsibility to provide effective representation to their clients and to continue to make a full record of work that cannot be achieved during the pandemic. NACDL supports its members and others who adhere to fundamental capital practice standards during this pandemic and refuse to undertake substandard in-person work.
The following procedures were adopted to govern a special election at the 2020 annual board meeting.
The Board of Directors adopted a statement of principles regarding the overcriminalization of public health order violations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Board of Directors adopted the following protocol for the Lawyers’ Assistance Strike Force on February 15, 2020.
The Executive Committee authorized NACDL’s president and executive director to seek available government and other financial assistance in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Resolutions adopted by NACDL's Board of Directors or Membership are posted online. Resolutions adopted prior to the year 2000 are posted as they are available. For more information on resolutions adopted prior to 2000, please contact NACDL.
NACDL opposes all laws that base criminal liability and/or penalty enhancements on one’s HIV status rather than on the intent to harm another individual. NACDL supports the repeal of such criminal laws as fundamentally unfair and unjust. Recognizing that outright repeal can result in the abusive use of existing statutes, NACDL also supports modernization of these criminal laws to incorporate strong principles of intent and proportional punishment.
NACDL urges the criminal defense bar to develop best practices for pretrial discovery. To that end, the Board authorizes the NACDL President to impanel a Rule 16.1 Task Force of practitioners and other experts to gather facts, collect data, and assess discovery procedures that have been implemented throughout the nation.
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers urges the Government of Canada to abandon Bill S-10 and to reject mandatory minimum sentences; and
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers urges the Government of Canada to reallocate the money intended for S-10 to fund drug treatment and harm reduction programs, alternatives to incarceration, employment opportunities, and human services.
