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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Brief of Amici Curiae American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Cato Institute, Due Process Institute, FAMM, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioners.
Ending mass incarceration will require changing sentencing policies and practices. But where are we now and what impact will COVID-19 have? Learn about varies state sentencing reform efforts, as well as release options during the COVID-19 pandemic and what states can do moving forward as a result of the pandemic.
NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually
NACDL, with its diverse membership of 10,000 spanning state, federal, and military practice, wishes to express its views on preferred Commission priorities. We concur with other advocates and stakeholders that current sentences are excessively long, and certain sentencing factors disproportionately affect racial minorities within the criminal legal system. Whatever issues the Commission determines to prioritize, these flaws should be foremost in considering potential amendments.
NACDL worked with the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to eliminate sentencing enhancements.
NACDL is working with partners to end habitual offender sentencing enhancements in New Mexico.
Coalition letter to the House Judiciary Committee regarding legislation to address the judicial discretion that allows for factoring into sentencing conduct acquitted by a jury, as proposed in Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act of 2021 (H.R. 1621).
An Apprendi Primer: On the Virtues of a “Doubting Thomas” Jon M. Sands, Steven G. Kalar October 2000 18 Apprendi v. New Jersey - to the surprise of many, but not to Justice Thomas - announced a “watershed change in constitutional law.” 1 The ripples of this recent Supreme Court decision are now bei
Comments to the U.S. Sentencing Commission regarding proposed amendments to the sentencing guidelines.
Comments to the U.S. Sentencing Commission on the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing ("CAN-SPAM") Act of 2003.
Letter to the U.S. Sentencing Commission regarding proposed amendments to the Fair Sentencing Act.
Letter to the U.S. Sentencing Commission regarding the economic crime package and other proposed amendments.
Comments to the U.S. Sentencing Commission on proposed 1997 Emergency Amendments.
Letter to the U.S. Sentencing Commission regarding proposed 1997 Amendments.
Letter from Rick Jones (Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem Executive Director), Alex Bunin (Harris County, TX, Public Defender), Lisa Schreibersdorf (Brooklyn Defender Services Executive Director), and Jeff Adachi (San Francisco Public Defender) to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees regarding proposed sentencing reforms that adjust how enhancements are determined, as addressed in Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S. 2123) and Sentencing Reform Act of 2015 (H.R. 3713).
Coalition letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding legislation to address the judicial discretion that allows for factoring into sentencing conduct acquitted by a jury, as proposed in Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act of 2021 (S. 601).