This report provides a brief overview of some of the activities supported by contributions and grants made to the NFCJ as well as federal grants made directly to NACDL. For more information, please visit NACDL.org or NFCJ.org/About.
NACDL AND NACDL FOUNDATION FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE 2024 IMPACT REPORT
www.NFCJ.org/Support
Defending Justice, Delivering Freedom
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for people accused of crime or wrongdoing. With over 10,000 direct members in 28 countries — and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling 40,000 attorneys —NACDL worked to achieve its mission by conducting trainings, advocating to state and federal legislators, filing compassionate release motions for incarcerated individuals and training pro bono partners to do the same, litigating Fourth and Sixth Amendment issues, and so much more.
The mission of the NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice (NFCJ), a 501(c)(3) public charity, is to preserve and promote the core values of America’s justice system guaranteed by the Constitution — among them due process, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, fair sentencing and effective assistance of counsel — by educating the public and the legal profession to the role of these rights and values in a free society. The NFCJ supports many of NACDL’s efforts to achieve its mission. This report provides a brief overview of some of the activities supported by contributions and grants made to the NFCJ as well as federal grants made directly to NACDL. For more information, please visit NACDL.org or NFCJ.org/About. In 2024, NACDL stood at the forefront of the fight for a fair, effective, and compassionate criminal legal system. Through bold advocacy, legal leadership, and transformative programs, we empowered thousands and brought lasting change to communities nationwide.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Freedom Delivered: Return to Freedom Projects NACDL’s Return to Freedom Projects help those serving overly harsh sentences by supporting pro bono volunteers to secure clemency and compassionate release. NACDL’s Return to Freedom Projects transform lives. In 2024:
43 individuals received compassionate release through the Projects.
1,932 years of excessive incarceration were eliminated.
Since its inception:
Over 300 total individuals freed.
41 individuals’ life sentences commuted to freedom.
2,400+ volunteer lawyers committed to the Projects.
10,000+ assistance requests processed.
This is more than reform. It’s a movement for human dignity.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
NACDL’s Fourth Amendment Center
Trained 2,678 defenders on emerging tech and privacy issues
Responded to
83 litigation assistance requests in 27 states
Filed/processed
10 FOIA requests
Hosted
2 national webinars & 1 national CLE
Completed in-depth, on-site tech training for 5 public defender offices
We are advancing digital defense in a surveillance age.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Advocacy That Drives Change We took action and mobilized our members: Lobbied on 36 measures, including supporting appropriations for Federal Defender Services, the Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act, and the Clean Slate Act. (No private foundation or government funding is used to support lobbying efforts.) NACDL and its members sent 556 letters to Congress on criminal legal reform issues that include CARES Act home confinement, expanding home confinement, the EQUAL ACT eliminating drug disparity in sentencing, and more. Submitted 12 formal and informal comments to federal agencies. Membership in the End the Trial Penalty Coalition — founded by NACDL — rose to 25 stakeholder groups spanning the political spectrum.
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Our legislative voice shapes the national conversation.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Fighting Criminalization Task Force on Policing and Overcriminalization of Pregnancy In 2024, the Task Force provided:
14 hours of specialized in-person training for 229 defenders. Hosted a national summit on emerging issues.
Worked in collaboration with national stakeholders. Tracked state laws and prosecutions and trends.
NACDL’s Criminalization of Voting Initiative raised awareness of the patchwork of voter disenfranchisement across the country. In 2024, the initiative’s projects included:
Multiple public webinars.
Engagement with law schools and mentoring law students. Online guides for returning citizens in Florida and Texas.
We push back against overcriminalization of all forms.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Legal Action with Lasting Impact 32 amicus briefs filed supporting landmark rulings. Some of those included:
People v. Redmond — The Illinois Supreme Court held that the smell of burnt cannabis alone does not justify a warrantless search. NACDL collaborated with our affiliate Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the ACLU. Farhane v. U.S . — The Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that defense attorneys are constitutionally required to inform naturalized clients about the risk of denaturalization and subsequent deportation before entering a guilty plea. Thompson v. U.S. — The U.S. Supreme Court held that 18 U.S.C. § 1014 criminalizes only false statements, not statements that are merely misleading.
To see all briefs, please visit www.NACDL.org/Amicus.
Our legal interventions are safeguarding constitutional rights.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Building the Defense Community We empowered defenders nationwide: * NACDL’s CLE Institute offered 13 live seminars in seven states and Washington, D.C., training over 3,200 lawyers. * NACDL’s Public Defense team provided: Over 479 hours of free, grant-funded live training programming. 15 webinars with 6,000+ registered webinar attendees. 80 scholarships totaling $20,000+ . * NACDL’s Capital Case Litigation Initiative: C onducted two Bring Your Own Case trainings and multiple in-office trainings. Facilitated 800+ hours of follow-up capital defense support. * Free Engage & Exchange Discussion Series: Provided 1,451 participants with an informal and intimate forum to explore topics like Medical Treatment and Corrections, Forensic Science Standards, and Evidence in Drugs and Guns Cases.
We don’t just educate defenders. We strengthen the profession.
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www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Strategic Litigation & Policy Reform Pursued strategic litigation though NACDL’s Fourth Amendment Center on critical cases involving tech, privacy and constitutional rights and access to counsel. Won important decisions on geofence warrants, tower dumps, and device searches. 0 geofence warrants allowed in the 5th Circuit as a result of a decision resulting from the Fourth Amendment Center’s work that declared geofence warrants to be unconstitutional. Pursued strategic litigation alongside our Wisconsin affiliate and Winston & Strawn to address the lack of access to counsel for individuals who have qualified for court-appointed counsel but waited extended periods of time for counsel to be assigned. Filed 10 FOIA requests, including one with the ACLU to uncover DOJ sentencing practices. Filed 32 amicus briefs. Judicial decisions referencing the trial penalty more than doubled.
We hold institutions accountable and fight systemic injustice.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Restoring Lives Through Second Chances
NACDL and partners hosted 2 expungement clinics in 2024 , offering free assistance and resources to expunge eligible criminal records. 46 people gained freedom from record-related barriers. Everyone deserves a chance to move forward.
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www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Amplifying Our Voice Featured in 110+ media stories (TIME, WSJ, AP News, Law360).
Reached 239,214+ social media followers with reform-driven content.
Click on icons to go to NACDL social media
We inform, influence, and inspire.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Fostering Inclusion 6 Fellowships placed law students with leading defender offices and firms.
We are developing future leaders from undergraduate and law schools around the nation.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Reports
Organizing a National Movement to End the Trial Penalty includes discussions on the
root causes of the trial penalty, solutions, and forming a national coalition dedicated to eliminating the trial penalty.
Organizing a National Movement to End the Trial Penalty Report of the 2021 NACDL Presidential Summit
JUSTICE FOR NONE HOW MARSY’S LAW UNDERMINES THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM
Justice for None: How Marsy’s Law Undermines the Criminal Legal System , by Professor Ráchael Powers, is an essential resource for legislators, attorneys, and advocates navigating the complexities of victims’ rights legislation.
Report Authors: Ráchael A. Powers, Ph.D.& Jacquelyn Burckley, MA
Our research and convenings shape policy and inspire action.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Supporting the Cause
NFCJ hosted the Charm City Soiree in Baltimore, honoring the legal icon William H. Murphy, Jr.
Writers’ Round in Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame raised essential funds to support NFCJ.
These events fund critical work and celebrate the power of justice.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
NACDL & NFCJ Financials On behalf of NACDL and the NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice, thank you!
We are deeply grateful to our donors, members, partners, and everyone who supports our mission — whether through financial contributions, pro bono assistance, participation in NACDL’s CLE programs, partnering with NACDL, or by purchasing our products. Your commitment makes our work possible. Together, we are advancing a more humane and just criminal legal system.
The figures listed in the charts are based on Accrual Accounting standards.
Note: “Administrative” revenue includes membership dues, royalties, publications, and exhibitor revenue. “Programs” revenue includes meeting and CLEs, product sales, contributions and donated services. “Other” under revenue includes grants, interest and dividends, and net assets released from restriction.
www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
Looking Forward
In every courtroom, every community, and every capital, NACDL will continue to lead the charge for liberty, equity, and justice. Join us as we build a better system for all.
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www.NFCJ.org/Support
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NACDL AND NFCJ IMPACT REPORT 2024
WAYS TO SUPPORT A tax-deductible donation can be made online at NFCJ.org/Support or by texting NFCJ to 50155 on your cellphone, or by sending a check or money order to: NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice Attn: Development 1660 L Street NW, 12 th Floor, Washington, DC 20036 For contributions of stock, please contact Clay Braswell, cbraswell@nacdl.org or call 202-465-7641. If you would like to include the NFCJ in your estate plans and make a legacy gift, make sure to use the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 52-2289169. www.NFCJ.org/Support
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