Introduction to the Cannabis Justice Initiative, part of NACDL's Return to Freedom Project, presented by John Albanes, Legal Director of the Return to Freedom Project, NACDL; and Sarah Gersten, General Counsel and Executive Director of Last Prisoner Project

NACDL’s Trial Penalty Clemency Project seeks to recruit volunteers to assist federal prisoners seeking commutations. 

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.  

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...

for Family Members and Loved Ones of People in Federal Prison

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.