Persons with disabilities represent one of the nation's largest minority populations. They are overrepresented in the criminal legal system as persons who are accused as well as persons who are victims of crime. In both the criminal legal system and in society generally, persons with disabilities are often denied meaningful access to the processes and protections afforded to the general population. These training materials and resources provide introduction to some of the issues and challenges that exist in our criminal legal system for persons with disabilities. 

Persons with disabilities represent one of the nation's largest minority populations. They are overrepresented in the criminal legal system as persons who are accused as well as persons who are victims of crime. In both the criminal legal system and in society generally, persons with disabilities are often denied meaningful access to the processes and protections afforded to the general population. These training materials and resources provide introduction to some of the issues and challenges that exist in our criminal legal system for persons with disabilities. 

Persons with disabilities represent one of the nation's largest minority populations. They are overrepresented in the criminal legal system, both as those who are accused and as victims of crime. Both in the criminal legal system and in broader society, persons with disabilities have not been granted full access to the processes and protections afforded to the general population. This training provides an introduction to some of the issues and challenges that exist in our criminal legal system for persons with disabilities. 

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.

NACDL President Gerry Morris's letter to Senator Cory Booker regarding the need for federal funding and support for public defense services, as proposed in the Equal Justice Under Law Act of 2016 (S. 3144).

NACDL President Lawrence Goldman's letter to House Judiciary Committee chair Representative Jim Sensenbrenner regarding the Innocence Protection Act of 2001 (H.R. 912).

NACDL President Barry Pollack's letter to Representative Sean Patrick Maloney regarding the need for federal funding and support for public defense services, as proposed in the Equal Justice Under Law Act of 2017 (H.R. 968).

NACDL President Barry Pollack's letter to Senator Cory Booker regarding the need for federal funding and support for public defense services, as proposed in the Equal Justice Under Law Act of 2017 (S. 328).

As a result of generous grant funding, NACDL is able to offer scholarship assistance to public defense attorneys to attend training programs.

NACDL President Chris Adams’ comments to Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding the need for public defenders and appointed counsel for people facing incarceration in tribal courts, for consideration by the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable.

Coalition letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies regarding President Barack Obama's request to include in the 2017 federal appropriations bill grant funding for public defense services and support, to continue the "Answering Gideon's Call" initiative.

In far too many regions of the country, training for both publicly-employed defenders and private counsel providing public defense services by court assignment or contract is grossly inadequate, undermining the ABA’s Ten Principles of a Public Defense Delivery System. In order to support public defense and with grant support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, NACDL creates free national training programs for public defense providers and offers online resources to make those programs accessible nationwide.

The right to counsel, guaranteed by the 6^th Amendment, promises every person, regardless of their charges or resources, has a skilled, zealous advocate by their side when they stand accused of a crime. As Gideon and other cases recognized, defendants' procedural and substantive rights cannot be protected unless every person has an attorney with the resources, skills, and independence to advocate for them. NACDL works to help reform inadequate public defense systems through training and technical assistance, public education, advocacy, and litigation.

The Champion articles on public defense news and developments.