NACDL has long advocated for relief for individuals serving overly harsh sentences. The results of its advocacy are evident as states across the nation and political spectrum are now recognizing the human, economic, and social costs of these policies, and have enacted reforms. However, most of these reforms are not applied retroactively, thus leaving behind individuals already serving substantial sentences. The only avenue for those left languishing in America’s prisons is back-end relief such as clemency and compassionate release.
The impact of the United States criminal legal system does not end at the prison walls. There is a vast network of life-altering consequences millions who interact with the criminal legal system. As identified in the 2019 Shattering the Shackles of Collateral Consequences report, these penalties include restrictions on employment, housing, voting, and other opportunities. While some states have implemented mechanisms for the sealing or expunging criminal records, most are not automatic.
Clemency and Expungement Resources
NACDL shares resources about expungement and record relief opportunities, clemency and second look efforts, resources, and partners who may be able to directly assist you.
NACDL created the Return to Freedom Project (R2F) to help those languishing in prison by partnering with different organizations to recruit, train, and support pro bono volunteers on clemency, compassionate release, and expungement. R2F united projects such as the Excessive Sentence Project, the Trial Penalty Clemency Project, the Cannabis Justice Initiative, and other clemency and compassionate release efforts under a single banner at NACDL. Since the launch of the NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project in 2017, R2F:
- Recruited over 2,320 volunteers from 550 firms and other organizations,
- Received over 10,000 applications for assistance,
- Placed 1,520 cases with firms,
- Filed 1,439 petitions and motions for relief with our Federal/state/local public defender partners,
- Regained freedom for 292 individuals,
- Reduced sentences by 1,685 years, and
- Freed 37 Lifers (or life equivalent).
Today, NACDL continues to partner with FAMM on the Compassionate Release Clearinghouse. While NACDL does not currently have clemency or expungement projects, information on these topics is available.
News Release ~ 06/16/2021
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Receives 2021 Alfred McKenzie Award for Compassionate Release Clearinghouse -- Washington, DC (June 16, 2021) – Today, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) was awarded the Alfred McKenzie Award during the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs’ 2021 Wiley A. Branton Awards, which celebrates organizations working to dismantle injustice and pursue lasting change. NACDL received the award for its ongoing work supporting the Compassionate Release Clearinghouse.
