Understanding the Issues & the Science

The new and improved NACDL Resource Center offers multi-faceted support to NACDL members. We assist you by providing you access to member-provided documents, external resources, experts, and hands-on support from our resource counsel attorneys when you can't find what you need. With more resources than ever, the Resource Center is an invaluable component of your NACDL membership. Only NACDL members may access the Resource Center. If you are not a member, join today.

The Lawyers' Assistance Strike Force has a clear mission of representing and counseling criminal defense lawyers who are members of NACDL when they are imperiled with the risks of contempt, disqualification or subpoena for privileged information.

These briefs on a series of questions, including whether the government is required to prove knowledge of drug type and quantity to trigger mandatory minimum and increased maximum sentences in drug cases were filed in the 9^th Circuit by the federal defender and sentencing resource counsel in LA.

Co-Sponsored by Georgetown University Law Center’s American Criminal Law Review

The landscape of sentencing policy has shifted in recent years, with federal and state lawmakers advocating fewer draconian penalties and beginning to scale back certain sentences. It is clear that the United States stands at a critical juncture for sentencing reform. This symposium is designed to equip practitioners and policy advocates with the latest strategies and research to seize the moment and foster more rational and humane policies.

Not sure when an article was published? Can't remember the title? Try searching below!

Evidence is the crux of every criminal case, making forensic science one of the most (if not the most) critical elements of an investigation and defense. This page contains materials and information relating to a vareity of forensic science subtopics. As forensics continue to evolve, so will this collection. 

NACDL's Ethics Committee provides formal ethics advice on relevant issues as circumstances require. Current formal ethics opinions are available below.

Innocent people are convicted of crimes and spend years in prison while the real offender remains free.  Although it is exceedingly difficult to overcome a conviction, even for an innocent individual, convictions are being overturned and individuals are being exonerated with increasing frequency.  According to the Innocence Project, over 300 individuals have been exonerated based on DNA evidence, while thousands of other individuals have been exonerated without DNA evidence.   

NACDLConnect provides opportunities to interact with other members, share knowledge and strategize together for the benefit of clients and the criminal defense profession. Members use NACDLConnect to refer cases to colleagues, request or share a brief, ask advice, or search the extensive history of member discussion, as well as  libraries containing hundreds of briefs, motions, and other documents that have been shared over the years.

NACDLConnect provides opportunities to interact with other members, share knowledge and strategize together for the benefit of clients and the criminal defense profession. Members use NACDLConnect to refer cases to colleagues, request or share a brief, ask advice, or search the extensive history of member discussion, as well as  libraries containing hundreds of briefs, motions, and other documents that have been shared over the years.

NACDL lists employment opportunities in the profession at no cost. Fill out the form below to have your position posted.

This PDF from Kansas State University is a helpful guide on using Zoom for virtual meetings.

Trello is a project management tool and created this resource for working remotely. It includes work from home tips and best practices from several other companies.