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
Help us continue our fight by donating to NFCJ
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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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]
Meaningful early representation helps protect individuals from a legal system that often punishes persons before they are convicted, forces guilty pleas to obtain release, and incarcerates the poor simply because they cannot afford to buy their freedom. This manual is designed to help support public defense lawyers in Virginia to improve the provision of early representation practices through zealous, effective, and informed efforts on behalf of those persons accused of criminal offenses. [Released Jan 2025]
Despite the fact that the data shows the overwhelming majority of individuals appear for their court dates and are not charged with any new crimes while awaiting trial, many Virginians face harmful pretrial detention. As incarceration for even a single day has substantial negative impacts on those detained, their families, and their cases, it is critical that steps be taken to mitigate against the use of unnecessary pretrial detention and promote practices that facilitate the prompt release of individuals awaiting trial.
Until recently, the effectiveness of Virginia’s pretrial system in achieving its goals of public safety, protection of individual freedoms, and efficient and just court proceedings has been hard to ascertain, due in part to the lack of available systematic data. New data released as part of the Virginia Pretrial Data Project (PDP) now provide opportunities to more closely examine the pretrial system in much richer detail and with more rigorous statistical methods than have previously been available. [Released Jul 2024]
Pre- and post-trial custody can have a tremendous effect on a teenager's development, physical and mental health, and likelihood of offending in the future. In this webinar, we address strategies for obtaining pre-trial release, avoiding placement of a teen in adult jail, incorporating psychological and social scientific evidence into sentencing proceedings, and post-sentencing advocacy.
Over 75% of those detained in local jails have not been convicted of a crime, and those in pretrial detention face the loss of employment and housing; suffer disruptions in education, medical treatment, and medications; and experience serious damage to their family and community relationships.
Financial bond should be used as a last resort. In most cases, pretrial supervision and less onerous conditions can serve to ensure the accused’s appearance and public’s safety without the discriminatory and disparate impact of financial bond. Learn more for your bail & bond case-related issues here.
Presented by: Scott Bales, Chief Justice, Arizona Supreme Court; and Lisa Foster, Co-Director, Fines and Fees Justice Center
This webinar was supported by Grant No. 2013-DB-BX-K015 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
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
Featuring Wade Banium, Bail Division Chief, and Sarah Wood, General Counsel, Harris County Public Defender’s Office. Discussion moderated by Bonnie Hoffman, Senior Director of Public Defense, NACDL
Presented by: Jennifer Sellitti, Director of Training and Communications, New Jersey Office of the Public Defender; and Alexander Shalom, Senior Supervising Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ)
Presented by Jennifer Gaut, criminal defense attorney, Houston, TX
Harris County Pretrial Advocacy Training
Presented by Sarah V. Wood, Assistant Public Defender, Appellate Division, Harris County (TX) Public Defender's Office
Presented by Jani Maselli Wood, Appellate Division Chief, Harris County (TX) Public Defender's Office
Harris County Pretrial Representation Training
Presented by Jani Maselli Wood, Appellate Division Chief, Harris County (TX) Public Defender's Office; Sarah V. Wood, Assistant Public Defender, Appellate Division, Harris County (TX) Public Defender's Office; and Jennifer Gaut, criminal defense attorney, Houston, TX
