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.
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A criminal conviction can lead to permanent loss of voting rights. Disenfranchising millions of Americans due to a criminal conviction undercuts the promise of democracy and severely weakens the power of communities, particularly those most harmed by the legal system, to meaningfully shape the political bodies that are supposed to represent them.
Co-hosted by NACDL and Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
The panelists explored the nationwide impact of felony disenfranchisement and how the recent prosecutions of people with felony convictions attempting to register to vote or cast a ballot harm our democracy. They also discussed the potential solutions at hand, including some that have already passed state legislatures.
Recording of Systemic Juror Exclusion: How States Continue to Disenfranchise Prospective Jurors Through Improper Policy Implementation, a webinar hosted by NACDL for Second Chance Month 2023.
On August 31st, 2022, NACDL and The Sentencing Project hosted "Guaranteeing Voting Rights for People with Felony Convictions," a discussion exploring how felony disenfranchisement policies impact individuals with a criminal conviction, the complexities of getting voting rights restored, and the cycle of criminalization some face as a result.
In Part II of the discussion on Race and Collateral Consequences, we explore how the use of “moral character” clauses, like those used in state bar licensing, can prevent individuals with convictions from participating in the legal profession. We also discuss a range of restrictions to entrepreneurial ventures that people with criminal convictions face that range from limiting a person’s ability to access capital through loans to barring participation in the legal, regulated cannabis industry.
In celebration of Second Chance Month in April, NACDL hosts the first of two discussions on race and collateral consequences. Panelists discuss the long-term impacts of criminal convictions, the specific harm that collateral consequences have caused to communities of color, and what it will take to meaningfully change this system.
Recording of Unlocking the Jury Box: How Felony Disenfranchisement Contributes to America's Jury Diversity Problem, a webinar hosted by NACDL for Second Chance Month 2022.
Though many individuals incarcerated in local jails retain the right to vote, they often cannot exercise it in practice. This de-facto disenfranchisement is caused by a wide range of barriers including difficulty registering to vote, challenges with casting a ballot, and misinformation pertaining to eligibility. In this webinar, we delve into the causes of jail-based disenfranchisement and highlight strategies that advocates and elected officials can employ to ensure that eligible voters who are being detained are not denied their right to vote.
Panelists: Lee McGrath, Managing Attorney for Minnesota and Senior Legislative Counsel, Institute for Justice; Desmond Meade, President, Florida Restoration of Rights Coalition; Marissa Dodson, Public Policy Director, Southern Center for Human Rights Moderator: Monica L. Reid, Senior Manager for Advocacy, NACDL
Shattering the Shackles of Collateral Consequences: Exploring Moral Principles and Economic Innovations to Restore Rights and Opportunity NACDL’s 17th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference and 2nd Annual Presidential Summit | August 23-25, 2018 | Atlanta, GA
Panelists: Omar Howard, The Omar Howard Story; Anthony Graves, Infinite Hope, Smart Justice Initiatives Manager, ACLU of Texas; Susan Burton, Becoming Ms. Burton, A New Way of Life Moderator: Nkechi Taifa, Advocacy Director for Criminal Justice, Open Society Foundations
Panelists: Stephanie Woodard, Solicitor General, Hall County, Georgia; Dave LaBahn, President and CEO, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Honorable Shawn LaGrua, Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia Moderator: Dr. Divine Pryor, Executive Director, The Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions
Panelists: Serena Nunn McCullers, Attorney, Atlanta Public Defenders Office, granted clemency & pardoned; Shon Hopwood, Associate Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center; Jarrett Adams, Criminal Defense Attorney Moderator: Amy Solomon, Vice President of Criminal Justice Policy, Laura and John Arnold Foundation
Panelists: Dr. Divine Pryor, Executive Director, The Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions; Ngozi Ndulue, Senior Director of Criminal Justice Programs, NAACP; Mary Price, General Counsel, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) Moderator: Roberta “Toni” Meyers, Director, H.I.R.E. Network
Panelists: Mark Holden, Senior Vice President, Koch Industries; Teresa Hodge, Co-Founder, Mission: Launch; Marc Levin, Vice President, Criminal Justice Policy, Texas Public Policy Foundation Moderator: Rick Jones, Immediate Past President, NACDL, and Executive Director, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem
