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.
Take a stand for a fair, rational, and humane criminal legal system
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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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NACDL’s Return to Freedom Project helps those serving overly harsh sentences seek relief by partnering with partner organizations to recruit, train, and support pro bono volunteers to secure clemency, compassionate release, or expungement.
NACDL’s Trial Penalty Clemency Project seeks to recruit volunteers to assist federal prisoners seeking commutations.
The Virginia Redemption Project recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to assist individuals incarcerated in Virginia’s prisons to petition for post-sentencing relief and executive clemency (which in Virginia is called a conditional pardon and is an act by the governor to modify a sentence). Having counsel through the process greatly increases the chances of success, and the Virginia Redemption Project is focused on ensuring that those who want to file a conditional pardon and cannot afford a lawyer have access to meaningful review of their case.
Stories from NACDL's Return to Freedom Project.
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Families Against Mandatory Minimums Announce NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project -- Washington, DC (Aug. 21, 2017) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), with support from the Foundation for Criminal Justice (FCJ), announce today a major state-focused clemency initiative, the NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project, a program designed to help to recruit, train, and provide resource support to pro bono attorneys...
The Excessive Sentence Project recruits and trains pro bono attorneys to file compassionate release motions on behalf of individuals in federal prison whose sentences are too long, either because they would receive a much lower sentences today due to intervening changes in the law or because their original sentence was simply unjust. If you think your loved one might qualify, please complete our questionnaire. Unfortunately, we cannot help everyone, but we are doing everything we can.
Pursuing multiple avenues of relief for those directly impacted by a cannabis conviction and its consequences through clemency, compassionate release, expungement, and reform.
Watch attorneys and clients paired through NACDL's Return to Freedom Project recount finding out that they had secured a second chance at freedom.
Recording of Second Chance Stories: Returning to Freedom, a webinar hosted by NACDL for Second Chance Month 2022.
Kenneth Charles "Charlie" Fragoso describes the day he found out that he was granted clemency after over 30 years of incarceration. His attorney, Professor Katie Tinto, worked through the Trial Penalty Clemency Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project, to secure his release.
Brendan O'Toole volunteered as a pro-bono attorney through the Virginia Redemption Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project. Brendan recounts telling his client, Sincere, that he was granted a conditional pardon and was going home after 24 years of incarceration.
On January 12, 2022, Sincere B. Allah was granted a conditional pardon by Governor Ralph Northam after 24 years of incarceration. Sincere and his attorney were paired through the Virginia Redemption Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project.
Professor Katie Tinto recounts telling her client, Charlie Fragoso, that he was granted clemency after being incarcerated for over 30 years. Professor Tinto and her students worked through the Trial Penalty Clemency Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project, to secure his release.
Daniel Gregory describes the day he learned that he was granted compassionate release after being incarcerated for 15 years. Daniel and his attorney were paired through the Excessive Sentence Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project.
In November 2021, just days before Thanksgiving, attorney Trevor Parkes found out that his client, Daniel Gregory, had been granted compassionate release after 15 years of incarceration. He had been paired with Daniel through the Excessive Sentence Project, an initiative of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project.
