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
Contact members of congress, sign petitions, and more
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Help shape the future of the association
Join the dedicated and passionate team at NACDL
Increase brand exposure while building trust and credibility
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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Find training materials and resources to assist attorneys in providing high quality representation as part of the Texas Counsel At First Appearance (CAFA) Project.
Public defense issues and developments in Texas
Review Texas pretrial statutes, case law, and practices, and gain new insights and practice points, in order to best advocate for your client. [Released May 2020]
NACDL's work on pretrial advocacy in Harris County, Texas highlighted by the publication of the Harris County Bail Manual. [Released December 2018]
NACDL is providing resources regarding the Criminalization of Pregnancy and Reproductive Health to the criminal defense community. Resources are provided without warranty or guarantee. Please consult the laws and rules of your state and local authorities. Please log in to access them. Membership is NOT required.
See the various issues on which NACDL has conducted criminal justice advocacy in Texas.
NACDL opposed an executive order in Texas to restrict mechanisms of release and suspend speedy trial protections.
In 1854, Texas first enacted a criminal abortion statute, which was shortly modified into substantially the form that the abortion statute took in 1973, when the Supreme Court held the Texas law unconstitutional in Roe v. Wade.
Policies and rulings on lengthy imprisonment terms in Texas.
Coalition letter to Governor Greg Abbott, of Texas, regarding his executive order (GA-13) refusing to allow release of inmates from state detention facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information on the policy and history of recording custodial interrogations in Texas.
See charts below or download
Suggested questions when interviewing a client pretrial. Featured as Appendix A in the Texas Bail Manual (May 2020).
Attorney-client communications federal caselaw and state-specific anecdotal data in Texas
Presented by Bonnie Hoffman, Director of Public Defense Reform and Training, NACDL
Supported by a grant awarded by Arnold Ventures to the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School and the Public Policy Research Institute at Texas A&M University
Public defense issues and developments in Texas