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.
Showing 1 - 15 of 23 results
More than 150 years after chattel slavery, a loophole still exists in many state constitutions: language that permits slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. This panel examines the growing movement to confront and close this loophole by amending state constitutions to fully and unequivocally abolish slavery.
24th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference October 9-10, 2025 | Held Virtually
Professor Judith Resnik will discuss the seismic impact of her recent research on solitary confinement – the Yale Liman Center and Correctional Leaders Association’s ongoing study on solitary confinement in US prisons. The current state of constitutional law regarding solitary confinement exposes two main areas in need of immediate academic intervention: definitional challenges and an absence of data reporting. JoEllyn Jones, defense lawyer and member of NACDL’s Decarceration Committee, will facilitate Prof. Resnik’s discussion of her research and issues in addressing solitary confinement.
David Cloud, Research Director of AMEND, a University of California, San Francisco-based organization, will discuss AMEND’s unique approach to reforming prison culture. In an incredibly informative event facilitated by defense lawyer and author Jerry Buting, Mr. Cloud will address training prison staff in Norway’s correctional principles, and the public health, medical ethics, occupational health, and international human rights aspects of prison reform.
Dr. Nazgol Ghandnoosh will share her latest research on prison sentence lengths. In this presentation moderated by defense lawyer Seth P. Chazin, Dr. Ghandnoosh will discuss that among the many facts revealed by her research, it was clear that lengthy sentences do far more societal harm than good and that lengthier sentences are demonstrably unjustified: Although 56% of people in U.S. prisons are sentenced to 10 or more years, research shows that people “age out” of crime in 10 years – recidivism decreases dramatically after a decade and desistance takes roughly 16 years.
The decades-long war on drugs distorted evidence law in drugs and guns cases leaving it littered with landmines for defense lawyers. This presentation will provide an approach for tackling the pervasive challenges defense lawyers face in drugs and guns cases such as co-conspirator statements, prior bad acts, and questionable government expert evidence.
“The reality is that people with felony conviction histories are targeted.” Hear Nicole Porter of the Sentencing Project discuss the weaponization of Election Integrity Units against formerly incarcerated individuals.
With election day around the corner, Nicole Porter of the Sentencing Project discusses the movement to guarantee ballot access for people in jails and prisons and ensure newly eligible individuals can participate in the franchise.
Ahead of election season, Nicole Porter of the Sentencing Project discusses strategies to restore and expand ballot access to formerly and currently incarcerated individuals in different political environments across country.
“The Constitution doesn’t stop at the jail door, shouldn’t stop at the prison door.” Nicole Porter of the Sentencing Project discusses the challenges and opportunities of the movement to end felony disenfranchisement.
Hear Marlon Chamberlain explain how permanent punishments create a maze of barriers for returning citizens, and how the Fully Free Campaign fights for change.
Virtual Launch Event: 50 Years and a Wakeup: Ending the Mass Incarceration Crisis In America featuring NACDL Senior Director of Advocacy Monica Reid
Join NACDL and The Sentencing Project, along with other campaign partners, to learn about campaign developments on challenging mass incarceration and next steps we can take together. This year, a coalition of advocates, experts, and partners launched a public education campaign, 50 Years and a Wake Up: Ending the Mass Incarceration Crisis in America, designed to raise awareness about the dire state of the criminal legal system.
2023 marks the 50th year since the U.S. prison population began its extraordinary surge. As advocates mark 50 years of mass incarceration, what is needed to meaningfully decarcerate our nation’s jails and prisons?
22nd Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference August 16-17, 2023 | Held Virtually
Law enforcement has increasingly turned to Google to identify criminal suspects by using digital dragnets that search millions or billions of people at once.
Explore the mechanisms that incentivize police to engage in pretextual traffic stops and examine state and local efforts to stop law enforcement from enforcing minor traffic infractions.
