ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
T he National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the preemi- nent organization in the United States advancing the goal of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons charged with a crime or wrong- doing. NACDL’s core mission is to: Ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime … Foster the integrity, independence and expertise of the criminal defense pro- fession … Promote the proper and fair administration of criminal justice. Founded in 1958, NACDL has a rich history of promoting education and reform through steadfast support of America’s criminal defense bar, amicus advocacy, and myriad proj- ects designed to safeguard due process rights and promote a rational and humane crim- inal justice system. NACDL’s 12,000 direct members — and more that 90 state, local and international affiliates with an additional 40,000 members — include private crim- inal defense lawyers, public defenders, active U.S. military defense counsel, and law professors committed to preserving fairness in America’s criminal justice system. Rep- resenting thousands of criminal defense attorneys who know firsthand the inadequacies of the current system, NACDL is recognized domestically and internationally for its ex- pertise on criminal justice policies and best practices. The research and publication of this report was made possible through support of indi- vidual donors and foundations to the Foundation for Criminal Justice. This report would not have been possible without the specific support of the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Institute.
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For more information contact: T HE N ATIONAL A SSOCIATION OF C RIMINAL D EFENSE L AWYERS 1660 L Street NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 202-872-8600 This publication is available online at www.nacdl.org/misdemeanor
Minor Crimes, Massive Waste
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