Program areas at NACDL
Nacdl, "liberty's last champion," is advancing due process and pursuing a rational and humane Criminal legal system across the full spectrum of the Criminal Defense agenda: forensics reform, death penalty repeal, discovery reform, drug law reform; eyewitness identification reform, public Defense, juvenile justice, National security, post-conviction rights restoration, problem-solving courts, recording interrogations, sentencing reform, protection of privacy rights in the digital age, clemency and early release advocacy. This is accomplished through groundbreaking research and reporting as well as advocacy at the federal, state and local levels. Nacdl also offers a resource center to provide practice support and access to training to the many small and solo practitioners across the country.
Nacdl's renowned journal, "the champion magazine," offers timely, informative articles written for the Defense bar and others interested in the Criminal legal system authored by Criminal Defense Lawyers and other professionals working in the field. The articles address the latest developments in all areas related to the nation's Criminal legal system on the federal, state and local levels, including myriad cutting- edge issues related to practice and policy in the Criminal legal process. The publication seeks to elevate standards of practice throughout the Criminal Defense bar and promote systemic reforms that address a wide range of issues including protection of first, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and fourteenth amendment rights, promoting a fair, rational, and humane Criminal legal system, and redressing systemic racism.
Nacdl's cle institute offers cutting edge continuing legal education (cle) programming both in live format as well as a wide variety of content delivery methods for acquiring self-study cle. Unlike any other cle providers focused on Criminal Defense, nacdl garners its quality advantage as a result of its ability to attract nationally-recognized faculties consisting of the nation's greatest legal minds, high-profile figures, and experts in a variety of specializations. These faculties translate into the production of premiere cle programming which addresses the most current and relevant issues in the Criminal Defense community.